Wow!

That's all I can say. Wow. Bama remains undefeated-barely-because of a blocked field goal with only 4 seconds to go. Terrence Cody, the big man at around 350 pounds, got up for the block. He did that twice in the game. TC, you ARE da man. :)

I seriously doubt I'll have much of a voice tomorrow.

Wow!

Time to take on the urnge!

Today is the "third Saturday in October." No, I'm not confused. I know that this is REALLY the fourth Saturday in October, but for years, the Bama-Tennessee game was ALWAYS the third Saturday in October. Anytime anyone would mention "the third Saturday in October" it was understood that he/she was talking about the UA-UT game. Even though it is now on the fourth Saturday more often than not, it is still referred to as the third Saturday quite a bit.

We'll be heading to T-town in just a bit, and I know I'll see more orange (or urnge, as I prefer to pronounce it) than I can stand. Orange never has been one of my favorite colors, and before anyone thinks I'm that way just because of Auburn, let me correct you. Before I ever even realized or cared about football, I've never cared for the color orange. So there! LOL Of course, it doesn't hurt that three of my least favorite teams in all of college football use orange as one of their colors, and in UT's case, it is their primary color.

I'm hoping for a really good game. I want Bama to come out fast and hard and ready to play. I want Tennessee to wonder what in the world has hit them. I don't want a close game. I want a score of 70-0, Crimson over urnge. I don't want to hear Rocky Top being played the first time. (Unfortunately for us, the visiting team's band sits just 3 or 4 sections away from us.) I WANT THE TIDE TO DOMINATE!!!

So, now that you know what I want, I need to go finish up. Have a GREAT football Saturday, and...

ROLL TIDE!!!

Talk about LAZY

John and I have been positively worthless today. Of course, we didn't get home until just before 3 AM this morning. I looked at the clock as I crawled into bed, and it was 3:01. We're just WAY too old for those late nights. Or early mornings. Or whatever you want to call it. :)

Once we found out the game yesterday was a night game, we tried to find a place to stay in Tuscaloosa, but none were to be found. John kept looking, though, and when he came in on Friday, he said he'd found a room at the Super 8 for Friday night and Saturday night. The rate was $170 with another $40 or so in the lodging taxes and all. That was over $200 A NIGHT. Yes, you read correctly. Over $200 a night for the SUPER 8. Nope, not in this lifetime, unless there is some kind of extreme emergency. So, we drove up yesterday and back home last night. Or this morning. Or whatever you want to call it.

Jessi and Lance stopped by on their way to Wetumpka yesterday. They were headed over to Montgomery for the wedding of one of Jessi's oldest and dearest friends. Lance wasn't very excited about having to miss the Auburn-Kentucky game for a wedding, but he's so head over heels in love with Jess, he'd do just about anything for her. After the outcome of the game, he may be glad he didn't sit out in the freezing cold all day and half the night.

They had Chipper, Scruffy Pup, and our newest grandpup, Sophie. Sophie is an 8-week old JRT, and she is SO DARN CUTE!!! She is white with a light brown spot over her right eye and one smaller light brown spot on her left ear. I could have eaten her up.

After Jess and Lance left, we headed to T-town. We had planned on eating at Dreamland, but when we turned onto Jug Factory Road, the cars were lined up on both sides and the parking lot was full. There was a line, but I have seen longer ones. We were hungry, so we decided to go to Hooters for wings and buffalo shrimp.

Once we got to campus, we just hung around on the quad people-watching for a while. We were right by University Blvd., so we saw the team buses as they went by, and then we saw the car and police escort for Mrs. Terry. (That is Coach Saban's wife for those who may not follow Bama football.) I've seen several interviews that she has done. She seems so down-to-earth and likable. I would love to meet her. I get the feeling that she's the kind of person who wouldn't mind if you sat on her sofa with your feet tucked up under your legs while you enjoyed a cup of coffee.

We finally headed over to the stadium about an hour before game time. After we got to our seats, I decided to get a cup of coffee. John wanted hot chocolate, so I headed to the concession stand. And stood. Forever. Or so it seemed. When I got back to our seats, John said he'd seen Janie and Mike, and pointed them out to me. Without saying anything, I jumped and ran down to where they now sit. If you have season tickets to any kind of event...football, basketball, baseball, the opera...you know that you really get to know some of the people around you and you develop friendships. True, wonderful friendships. You may not see each other any time else, but you look forward to seeing them at the games. That's how it is with Janie and Mike. When we sat in the south endzone, they sat behind us, and over the years, we got to know each other. Once we were re-located, my first thought was "I wonder where Janie and Mike are sitting?" I have her business card, but to be able to find it on this messy desk would be a feat. Anyway, we hugged and laughed like we hadn't seen each other in forever. OK...so we haven't seen each other since November of last year (when Bama SOUNDLY beat the other team in the state...) So it's been almost a year. We picked up right where we left off in November. :)

To be honest, I am really surprised that Bama is still undefeated. If you look at the score (Bama 20; South Carolina 6), you'd think that we tore SC up. If you look at some of the other stats, you'd think the same, but until the 4th qtr. when Mark Ingram scored the only offensive TD, I was worried. We had a hard time getting the offense going, just like last week. Fortunately, we do have a very good defense who was able to keep SC from getting anything except a couple of field goals. On both of the series where they got the field goals, our D was able to stop them within the red zone. I know that Tennessee will bring their A game to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, but I also know that Coach Saban and his staff have stressed the need to take everything one game at a time. From what I've seen of Tennessee, I think we can win, but most anything can happen. Just ask some of the teams who were upset, or almost upset, yesterday.

Bama has played well enough to jump Florida in the AP poll. We're now number 1 there, and we moved to number 2 in the ESPN/Coaches' poll. The first BCS poll was released today, and we're number 2 there as well. This is playing out just like it did last year, except that we reached number 1 a week earlier this year. I'm REALLY hoping for a repeat trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. IF Bama does go, this gal WILL be there! I don't care if I have to sell my plasma to pay for the trip. LOL

John has a HUGE pot of his delicious soup on. Unfortunately, we didn't get off our rumps early enough to get it on sooner, so we won't be having it for supper tonight, but it sure will be good tomorrow night. We are having delicious hot dogs for supper. Think I'll make some Rotel dip to go with them.

I'm seeing an early night tonight, probably with the help of Simply Sleep. Even though I am SO tired from our late night/early morning, tomorrow is the first day of a new term, and I never sleep well before a new term.

Hope y'all have a GREAT week!


ROLL TIDE!!

End of fall break...BOO!

So today is the last "official" day of fall break, and I've spent it doing stuff around the house...the never-ending laundry, dishes, vacuuming, capturing a leeeezard under a box.

Yep, a lizard. A live one. IN MY HOUSE! At least it wasn't a mouse. THAT would have REALLY freaked me out, and I probably would have called John to tell him he had to get home SOON. I wasn't so happy to see a lizard...a live one...in my house, but I can live with a live lizard captured under a box (with a fan sitting on top of the box) until my Superman husband gets home. :) He is SO wonderful. But I do wonder how he's gonna get the lizard out from under the box (with the fan sitting on top) without the lizard running off...

The amazing thing is that I didn't step on it. Not five minutes before I found him, I had been hanging clothes in my closet, and he was RIGHT THERE in front of the closet door. I'm not really sure who was scared the most, me or Leon (as I named him.) When I first saw him, neither of us moved, and then Ali came in the bedroom. She saw him and went to sniff. He (or maybe she???) ran. I had no idea where, but there wasn't a whole lot I could do because I sure wasn't going to try to catch him. I mean, his TAIL might have fallen off and I would have had a major case of the heeby jeebies.

I decided the only thing I could do was to keep cleaning house. I got the vacuum out and started in the bedroom. (I really wanted to finish up in there so I didn't have to go back.) I moved the quilt rack, and there was Leon. He fell on the floor, and I made an attempt (after screaming) to suck him up in the vacuum. (How humane is that???) Since he is captured under a box (with a fan sitting on top...), I obviously didn't suck him up with the vacuum cleaner. There was a boot box in the den that I was going to take to the outside garbage, so I got it and managed to get it over Leon (or Leonetta) before he (or she) ran again. Then I decided that there needed to be something on top of the box, just for extra precaution. Hence, the fan. He is still resting (I hope) quietly under the box with the fan on top in my bedroom. I hope he doesn't poop or pee on my floor. I've never had to clean lizard poop or pee. Is it nasty??? Don't answer...all poop and pee is nasty.

OK...so, the end of fall break. With the exception of nasty, rainy weather ALL WEEK LONG, it has been a great break for me. Like I said in my last post, it has really been all about me. I've rested and done the things I wanted to do. I did toss in those things that I needed to do (like the never-ending laundry, dishes, clothes...) But I do feel rested and ready to get the next ten weeks started. (Our next term is actually 10 weeks long because of the days out for Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving.) The next term will be super busy because it's when we do research. This is when I typically get WAY behind on grading. Thankfully, Ashlee is an awesome assistant, and I know I can depend on her to check some things for me.

Tomorrow is HOMECOMING at the Capstone. I really wish we were able to go tonight and stay for the weekend. I love homecoming! There is so much excitement in the air, and tomorrow should be a perfect football day as far as the weather goes. I'm trying to decide what to wear because it's supposed to be quite chilly tomorrow night, and it is a night game.

It's the first nighttime homecoming game in Bama's history. For as long as I can remember, our homecoming game has ALWAYS been at 2:00, BUT we have usually played a lesser school. However, there have been the years of playing Penn State and LSU for homecoming. Even those were 2:00 or 2:30 games. This year, it's the Gamecocks of South Carolina and Steve Spurrier, and ESPN has picked it up. ESPN is the reason for the 6:45 kickoff.

South Carolina has a 5-1 record, and we're at 6-0, so I honestly expect it to be a good game. I just hope that the side of the scoreboard reading ALABAMA has the most points when the clock shows triple zeroes. The stadium should be rocking and LOUD. I hope so anyway.

Guess I need to run. I haven't made my picks for the football contest yet this week, so I need to do that and get them sent to Andy. This has been a HORRIBLE year for me! I usually don't do any worse than about 17-8, but I don't even think I've gotten 17 correct picks once this year. I blame it on the excess rain. LOL

Hope you have a GREAT weekend, and

ROLL TIDE!!

I looooove fall break!

Ahhh...I really hate to say this, but my fall break has been all about ME, ME, ME!!!! I will be the first to admit that I do have some selfish tendencies (and if you are honest with yourself, you'll admit the same thing) but I really try so hard to put others first. This week, though, everything I have done has revolved around me.

The trip to the beach...ME and rekindling MY friendships (went very well, thank you!)

Trip to Opelika yesterday...had to get the computer, but I got a pedicure out of it, AND I checked on my cell contract and learned that it runs out at the end of the month. (I see a new phone in my very near future...)

Today, I indulged in an HOUR-LONG MASSAGE, just because I wanted one! Then I got my hair colored...because it REALLY needed it, and I REFUSE to let my gray get out of hand. (So, yeah, that's about me, too.)

Tomorrow, I am going to Birmingham to see my beautiful daughter Katy and my gorgeous grandson Sam. Yep, all about what I want there, too. LOL (Actually, I did check with Katy first to make sure that they weren't already busy, so I did put her needs first there.)

Friday, life starts going back to normal. I'll clean house because we'll be in Tuscaloosa for the game Saturday, and since it is a 6:45 PM game and we haven't been able to find ANYWHERE to stay, we'll be driving back late. That means Sunday will be a L.A.Z.Y. day, and then Monday, it's back to the "real" world. A new countdown will start for the next break in December. Luckily, we do have several days off during the next term (Veteran's Day and three days for Thanksgiving.) It will fly by, and then it will be Christmas!

Gotta go fold clothes. YUCK! Have a GREAT afternoon!!!

Friendship

Remember way back when to your elementary school best friend. Remember making those promises under the oak tree on the play ground...those promises that you'd be friends forever? Jump ahead just a few years to junior high school. By this time, you'd discovered that boys really WEREN'T so yucky. You and your best friend would sit up half the night giggling and dreaming about your future. Maybe you promised that when you grew up and got married, you would live next to each other and your kids would be best friends. Finally, it was high school. Teachers and parents warned you that the next few years would bring many changes to your life. You would all go different ways and the friendships that you made would fade to the background. You and your best friend laughed and said that they didn't know what they were talking about. After all, you'd made promises years ago that you'd be friends forever, and again, you promised one another that nothing could ever change that.

The summer following graduation was magical. You hung out with your best friend as much as possible, because you knew that once August rolled around, you'd be leaving to go to school and you wouldn't see each other every day. But once again, you promised. You made plans for her to come spend the weekends with you, and every time you were home, you'd be inseparable. For the first couple of months, that's what happened, but then life happened.

You both started dating people and making new friends. Suddenly, you didn't have time. No, you didn't MAKE time. Months went by with just the occasional phone call because you were always busy. Then you realized that you hadn't seen your BFF in several months, so you try to make plans. Nothing works out because when you are free, she isn't and vice versa. But you agree to keep trying.

Now, it has been four or five years, and you've lost touch. You aren't even sure where she is now. When you're home, you ask about her, but that's about all. You think back to everything your teachers and parents told you about losing connections, and you laugh...sadly...because you'd promised it wouldn't happen and now it has.

Fast forward about 20 years. There is the new thing called "facebook" that many of the younger generation is talking about. You learn that it is a social networking site that they use to keep up with friends. A few more years pass, and a co-worker sends you an invitation to join. You decide to check it out, thinking the whole time "I know this isn't for me."

Gradually, your friends list fills. First with co-workers and current friends, but one day you receive a friend request from a high school friend. Feeling a little hesitant, you accept it. I mean, it's been over 20 years. What in the world do we have in common now??? Before long, you have reconnected with several high school friends, and you realize that you have really and truly missed them.

A few months later, some of you decide to meet for lunch. You can't wait, but there is a feeling of nervousness. Just that "what if..." Of course, you have an "out" planned in case everything goes downhill. Fortunately, you don't need the out, and after sitting in the restaurant for several hours, you began to feel that the employees really wish you'd leave. :)

This is my story. This is what happened to me. But that lunch wasn't the end of it.

This past weekend, Anita, Brian, Cindy, Donna, and I met up in Gulf Shores for the a long weekend. Anita, Cindy, Donna, and I had met for lunch in July. We said we were going to do a beach trip this fall, but honestly, I wasn't 100% sure it would happen, but it did, and I am SO glad! The entire weekend was spent laughing, talking, crying...just like we'd never lost touch. It is amazing to me that after so many years we were able to pick up just where we left off. It was such a wonderful time.

Another one of our friends, who was my best friend in school, was Debbie. Everyone asked me about Debbie-where she was, what she was doing-but I had no clue. I did know she was in Florida, but that was all. Over the weekend, I got a facebook friend request from her! It was awesome. I immediately accepted and told her that her ears must have been burning because the others had been asking about her. Maybe on the next trip, she can join us.

Before we left yesterday, we agreed that this will be an annual get-together, and we're planning on having birthday gatherings as well.

This weekend was, without a doubt, one of the best ones I have had in a long time. It was filled with so much happiness. We did all of the "remember when..." but we also filled each other in on the years since high school. We talked about how the people we were then are so far removed from the people we are now. I truly think having those years apart was good because I know that I appreciate the renewed friendships much more than I think I ever did the high school friendships. I don't take them for granted any longer.

So, after you read this, pick up the phone, do a facebook search, jot a quick email to the people you loved in high school but have lost touch with. I promise you won't regret it.

Oh yeah...how 'bout that TIDE?? Cindy and I watched the game while Anita, Brian, and Donna did some shopping. It was really nice that EVERY ONE OF US are HUGE Bama fans, and we really don't care much about the other major college team in the state. LOL

ROLL TIDE!!

Hell Week

When I was in college, the week prior to exams was called Hell Week because we all were cramming our butts off studying. Even though I'm not in college anymore, I honestly think this week beats any Hell Week I ever had.

It started with Jessi getting sick in Knoxville and our being worried about her. I left Lance a voice mail Monday morning to check on her. He sent me a text a little later and said she still wasn't any better and that he was going to take her to the doctor. So I was on alert in case there was something that they needed. Fortunately, it turns out that it was "just" an ulcer. Now, don't get me wrong...I've had ulcers, so I know how horrible they can be, and I do know that they can be severe. I say "just" because I know that with correct treatment, they can be taken care of. I checked on her again Tuesday, and she said she was still not at 100% but that it was getting better. (After taking the WRONG medications for 2 1/2 days, I'm sure her ulcer was more irritated than ever.)

On Tuesday afternoon (was that only yesterday? It feels like it's been a year ago), I had just sat down at my computer to enter some grades when I felt my phone vibrate. There was a missed call and then a text from Mom: "Call me ASAP." Mom never uses ASAP, so I knew it was urgent. I immediately called her back. She was on her way to Birmingham from a conference in Montgomery. Dad had been to the doctor to have some tests run because he had been having some facial numbness and headaches (which Mom knew nothing about until yesterday because he didn't tell her.) The tests results showed that there were a couple of blood clots on his brain, so they were sending him by ambulance to Princeton Hospital. I freaked out. Blood clot, brain, facial numbness, trip by ambulance...I could only think the worst.

I flew down to the office to tell Debbie I had to leave. Everything is a complete blur. I remember sitting there while Mr. Reyes called John and made arrangements for me to get home. I couldn't think. I couldn't talk. I've never hyperventilated, but I think I was pretty close.

After getting home, I managed to toss a change of clothes into a bag, and as soon as John got here, we left. On the way to Birmingham, Mom called and said she had talked to their primary physician again, and she assured me that everything was going to be okay, but I still could imagine only the worst.

When we got to the hospital, Mom was able to give me more information. They had done a second CT scan on Dad at Princeton, and the neurologist saw only one clot, and it wasn't large enough to make him think immediate surgery was necessary. He took Dad off his coumadin (which Dad refers to as rat poison) and was going to rescan this morning. They did the scan again, and everything was looking good. They gave him a vitamin K tablet to reverse the effects of the coumadin, and he was getting plasma when John and I left the hospital. They will rescan again on Friday, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he'll be able to come home.

I don't know if the original scan showed something more than what the second one showed or if the radiologist just thought there was something more there or if it was a "God thing" as my sweet, sweet surrogate daughter Kristen said, but whatever the case, I am so thankful that everything is okay. No matter what was really there or not there, prayers WERE answered.

Now, I'm going to go into hiding so that if anyone else gets sick over the next six months, I won't know about it until he/she is healthy. :)

There are only two more days until fall break is here. I think I need it.

Have a GREAT evening!

A really quick trip

Sometimes you wonder why things turn out the way they do. This weekend was a good example. John and I had planned on asking Jessi and Lance if they would keep Ali and Bama for us while we were in Gatlinburg for the weekend. Turns out that Jessi and Lance had planned on asking us the same thing because they were going to the Auburn-Tennessee game in Knoxville. We ended up boarding Ali and Bama at Southern Star (and they loved it!) and Lance's parents took care of Chipper and Pup for them. All of us being in the same general area was a good thing.

John and I left Thursday morning. After we dropped the pups off, we decided to come back home and take the Miata because it was SO gorgeous. We managed to get everything packed into the micro-trunk (I can pack light.) We took the back roads as much as we could, but we did end up taking interstate the last part of the way. We got checked in, rested for a bit, and then headed to Smoky Mountain Brewery for dinner. Not too bad, although I wasn't 100% crazy about the beers we sampled.

We got up Friday and started getting ready. Jess called to wish her daddy a happy birthday before we left for the day. She sounded just fine and she didn't say anything about feeling bad. More on that in a bit. We went to Apple Barn for breakfast. YUMMY! The apple fritters and apple julep were delish, and the fried apples I had for "dessert" were SOOOO good. (I told John that fried apples make me happy. LOL) After breakfast, we looked around at Orvis for a bit, and then we headed to the Bluegreen Resort presentation.

If we were a young couple who had years and years ahead for vacation travel, or if we were a retired couple who planned to do nothing with our retirement years except travel, this would be a really great deal, but we aren't either. We're right in the middle, and as much as some people don't "get" it, we love taking our vacations at our little place on the lake. So, no, we didn't buy in. Of course, the sales rep tried every way possible to convince us that we NEEDED to buy in. haha

After the presentation, we decided to cruise through the Smoky Mountain Arts Community. We were in and out of cell phone reception areas, but once when we were in an area, I got a message to call Jess. I did, and Lance answered her phone. She had gotten sick and was at the emergency room. Of course, our first question was "do we need to head to Knoxville???" Lance assured us that everything was okay for the time being and we made sure he knew that ALL he had to do was call and we'd be there. They did blood work and a stomach x-ray, and all was fine. The doc felt like it was a lower intestinal virus. He gave her some meds and sent her home. I sent Lance a text later to check in, and he said she was sleeping off and on.

Our plans for Saturday were to drive over the mountains and into Cherokee, NC, and then just ease south. We were going to just stop whenever we got tired Saturday evening and then head home today. About 7:45 yesterday morning, I got a text from Lance saying that Jess still wasn't feeling good, and she wanted to ride home with us if we didn't care. We kicked it into high gear and got ready. Of course, we made a goof on the interstate and ended up taking longer than it should have to get to the hotel they were in. I drove Jess's car and she slept most of the way. Once we got home, she did eat some soup and drink some Gatorade, and she managed to keep it down. This morning, she had a biscuit and some more Gatorade, so hopefully, she's on the mend.

I was so glad that we were there and able to bring her home. I know that Lance would have forgotten all about the ballgame and would have either stayed at the hotel with her or would have brought her on home, but with us being there, he was able to go on to the game. I know he worried about her, though. :)

We had a pretty lazy day today. Jess slept until about 10 or so, and then we all napped during the race. (Isn't that what race days are for?) Lance's parents brought him over once he got home so he could get Jessi.

Guess that's about it for now. I've taken Benadryl today, so I'm in that foggy state. I think bedtime will be here fairly early tonight.

Oh yeah...Bama is 5-0 and headed to a big game in Oxford, MS this weekend. :)

Have a GREAT Monday, and

ROLL TIDE!!