Bath time with Luke

Bath time with our nephew Luke. What a cute kid!

Is there a job out there?

Anyone who reads this knows that my wife is a very talented individual. Daily she amazes me with her ideas and art and passion. One of the things that has become so clear to me over the last few years and more so in the last few months is that Mandy is great with kids and teaching. She has a natural gift to work with them in a way that others can't. She's demonstrated this in her art classes that she was teaching to grade school kids and now she's doing it with high school girls for Seattle Christian school. (Who by the way is 5-0!) It seems natural for her to be called into something related to this for a full time job.

Mandy and I have been praying for the right job to come along for her. Asking God that He would show us that job and help us to be patient. We're not sure if the right job will be her selling her art, teaching kids art or something we're not even aware of. We recently started modifying our shed so she had a dedicated place to do her art. Well Mandy was applying for many jobs with no success and a lot of frustration and hurt but recently had a phone interview for the Children's Museum in Seattle and everything about it sounded great! Both of us were so excited and we thought it was God's answer to our prayer.....well apparently it wasn't meant to be. Turns out they need someone next week which conflicts with her golf schedule. I don't get it! It's so frustrating and my heart breaks listening to my wife and her disappointment. All I want is for her to be happy. I just want her to know that she's not a failure and her gifts are so great and she has so much to offer this world. I just want to go to these places that she's applying and tell them everything about Mandy and why she would be great!

One thing I'm learning in this situation is that we have to continually rely on God and His plan for our lives. We can't do this on our own as we will fall short. Mandy, God has big plans for you as we heard last night and I don't want you to lose sight of that! I love you Mandy!

Back to Reality

Well it's back to reality. Going back to work has been difficult because ever since I've gotten back I just want to look at my pictures/video or think about the Masters. Unfortunately with Mandy's surprise came the reality that I actually did have to do the taxes. I now know to never believe Mandy when she says that she's going to do them. Although I think after this surprise she could probably make something else up pretty easily. It was a great trip and it's nice to be back! I'll always have my memories.....and about 2,000 photos!

Masters Top 10

This is Mandy writing:

Wow, where do I begin? When I starting thinking about this last blog, it became less about deciding what to write and more about what to leave out, because honestly how do you sum up a week such as this? There are so many experiences I could tell, so many things I could describe, but for your sake and because some things are better left as a memory I have created a top ten list instead. Let me set the stage for you; imagine Mr. Billy Payne standing on the podium looking spiffy to the tee (no pun intended). No, no let me back up, I just realized only a few of you have any idea who Billy Payne is, so he will not do (commissioner, of the Masters by the way). Ok, instead imagine Angel Cabrarrea waiting to receive his green jacket. Ahhh crap he doesn’t speak English. Alright I’ll just cut right to it, let’s just imagine who we all really wanted to win, I think his voice would suit my top ten best, Mr. Kenny Perry (large sigh, bogey on 18, really). There he stands in his imaginary green jacket, he takes a deep breath and announces, “I dedicate this win to Mike Fiechtner, who is quite possibly this biggest Masters fan of all time,” he continues, “his dedication to this tournament is unparalleled. From his countless hours researching ebay, to his willingness to take vacation days just to watch us on TV, all this only matched by his extensive Masters spreadsheet. Mike, this top ten is for you!”

10. The excitement of driving past the hallowed Magnolia Lane at 12:30am (although Mike had on rose colored glasses I was surprised to see that it was in the middle of suburbia strip mall ville.)

9. Walking through the merchandise tent looking at all the cool Masters memorabilia (yeah I spent an arm and a leg, but how many times do you get to buy Masters stuff, oh wait….. ebay)

8. The first look at the course. (It was just like a painting laid out before us, hills and trees and flowers and the giant score board! Ahhh as they say the closest thing to heaven on earth.)

7. Walking the whole course and listening to Mike tell me all kinds of useless facts, “oh, did you know this is the only hole with a palm tree (hole #4), ahh this is the hole where Sarzen got his double eagle, this is where Greg Norman came up short and his ball rolled all the way back,…. (You get the point, and don’t be deceived I loved every little tid bit)

6. Getting autographs throughout the week, and standing in the line watching all the players walk to the driving range. (The irony is that I didn’t get any of the autographs while standing in the line, although we did get 8 new autographs, and I was able to get 2 of them. One was Bernard Langer as he was walking off the practice green, he was right in the crowd and not many people noticed him. And Charles Coody, he signed on the back side of the club house, against Augusta National rules, oooooo. Yeah, Yeah who is Charles Coody, winner in 1971 duh.)

Ok here comes the big disclaimer. I recognize the fact that with each number I am sounding more and more like Mike. But I assure you this is all me, granted Mike has clearly affected my state of mind. Although no where the same level as Mike, with some hesitation I must admit, I too love the Masters. Yeah I said it, so what.

5. Mike getting Larry Mize to personalize our flag (he always puts a name or a verse when signing) to say Mandy with my favorite verse below it, better than any flowers or chocolate ladies. To make it even more special Mike went to great lengths all week trying to get this signature, finally making friends with his caddy he was able get him to sign. And you must understand Mike has been working on this flag for many years now, collecting around 20 signatures, and only missing about 8 champions who are still alive. It is a big love of his, therefore very special to me.

4. Watching past champions drive down Magnolia Lane for the champions’ dinner Tuesday night. How could you do this you ask, well, que Steve the Sheriff, our good friend who guarded Magnolia lane. This number could not have happened without him. Like everyone we met this week Steve could not have been any nicer, he went above and beyond for us. We meet him on Tuesday at the end of the day right after being asked to say some words for a European Tour show on the Golf channel. We thought that was pretty cool but what followed top that by a thousand. Because of the cold weather the champions’ dinner was held inside this year, which consequently meant Steve did not make us leave when we were supposed to. As we began to chat he told us stories of players, past champions, members, the works, things only an insider would know. And sure enough we got to stand there long enough to see many of the past champions drive up for the dinner. So dressed to the tee, we saw Woosnam, Faldo, Nicklaus, Palmer, Crenshaw, Weir, etc…

3. Sitting on 18 the final day. We watched all the drama unfold, heard the roars from Phil and Tiger, and even got on TV a few times. Overall an awesome place to be, no thanks to Mike and his mad dash to place our chairs in primetime spot! He and thousands of his friends were vying for a very small amount of space because there are no bleachers on 18. So we waited at the gates until 8:05 and the dash began, I was left in the dust but reaped the benefits of my hubby’s long legs and determination.

2. The par three tournament, again finding awesome seats on 9, this time I scored the prime time spot. We got to see Tim Clark and Gary Player get hole in ones (Player’s was actually his third shot after going in the water), we enjoyed watching all the player’s kiddos caddy for them and putt the final shot for them. We watched Fuzzy pick a little girl out of the crowd to putt his last shot for him, about a 15 foot side hill putt, which she made on one of the fastest greens in the world! It was so fun taking pictures and watching, a very fun relaxing day. Check out the picture I took on the Masters website of Nicklaus, Mike claimed it but I took it!

1. Being blessed enough to share the opportunity of a lifetime with my amazing husband. Words can describe how thankful I am for his love of me, and well, The Masters. Because it is that love that made all of this happen, truly an unforgettable experience, unlikely to be topped in this lifetime.

Masters memories I'll never forget!

This week has been quite a week and I'm trying to make the best of everything and take everything in. I never expected to get some of the experiences I'm getting. Here are a few of those stories.

When golf fans think of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters there are certain things that come to mind, one of which is Magnolia Lane. For those that don't know this is the road that leads from Washington Road to the clubhouse. The drive is lined with large trees that are over 100 years old. It is a drive that players always talk about. Unfortunately for the fans you aren't able to drive down it or even walk down it during the tournament. During the practice rounds people are able to take pictures of it from the one end but that's about it. Well during the week Mandy and I have befriended the sheriff that guards the front of the clubhouse and the end of the Magnolia Lane. Each day I've stopped by and said hello and he's shared some really neat stories of his time working. We waited with him Tuesday night til about 7pm and watched about a dozen of the champions come for the champion's dinner. Well today I stayed til the very end of the day and after all of the players were done I was at the front trying to get Mickelson's autograph and I joked to the sheriff that maybe he could drive me to the local IHOP where Mandy was supposed to pick me up and drive down Magnolia Lane. He said sure. So unlike every other one of the 30,000+ fans, I was able to drive down Magnolia Lane.....yes it was in the back of a cop car but at least I got to experience it.



As many of you know, I have a Masters flag that I try to get as many of the champions to sign. Today was a great day for getting some of the autographs. I was able to get 4 more today from Jackie Burke, Billy Casper, Nick Faldo and Larry Mize. The best story comes with getting Larry Mize's. I had been trying to get his autograph every day and was unsuccessful. I had a chance to talk with his caddie for about 10 minutes on Tuesday he took my business card and he said that if I didn't get his autograph this week he'd email me and we'd figure out a time at the senior tour event in Seattle. I had talked with his caddie a few more times today and also on Wednesday. Well today after Larry Mize finished his round he was hitting balls on the range and his caddie saw me and said "hey Mike"....at this point we are on a first name basis. He came over and grabbed my flag and said that he'd get his autograph for me and bring the flag back out to me. There were probably a half dozen people trying to get his autograph and so I felt pretty special. He personalizes the flags and so I had him make it out to Mandy and he's also a christian so I asked his caddie to have him write Mandy's favorite bible verse: Matthew 6:34. It was nice to meet his caddie and have him do this for me.



Everyone at the tournament has been so nice and I'm having the time of my life. How many people can say they have driven down Magnolia Lane, chatted with Masters champions who won in 1956 and 1970 or befriended the caddie for the 1987 Masters champ? I'm sure there are several but now I'm one of them!

A few Masters photos

Just a few photos from the Masters. The first is of a guy they pulled from the crowd at #12 and let him hit a tee shot. He stuck it 10 feet from the flag....great shot.



Ben Crenshaw's tee shot:


Jack Nicklaus and his grandson during the par 3 tournament:


Mandy and I at the back of the clubhouse:


Greg Norman.....don't blow it again! Mandy is rooting for him to win.


Mandy stretching before going in on Tuesday. As you can see we are first in one of the lines....would you expect anything different from me! This was about 6:45am.


Mandy and I at the tee of #12 at Amen Corner:

I'm a part of Masters history!

I decided to post one of my photos on the Masters website after Tuesday's round and they put it on in the "Patron Photos". I was super excited to see that they selected since they tell you when providing the photos that they receive a lot and only post a select number. Also, have to give props to John Keatley for teaching me everything I know about photography and lending me his super duper lens. Thanks John!

Here is the link on the Masters website and also I'll post the picture on the blog:

http://www.masters.com/en_US/news/photos/2009-04-08/200904081239216750.html?glryid=2009-04-08/p20090408