Busy day today. But it all felt like we were just waiting for the big game. Which, in a way, I guess we are.
Straightened things in the house. Then I made other messes and tried to keep them under control. We started the process of decorating the Christmas tree. We purchased it Wednesday night, carried it inside and it slipped right into the tree stand. It took two twists and then simply holding it straight while we tightened the screws. It was the easiest tree we’ve had so far. The man with the chainsaw knew his craft.
That evening we also put out the decorative trees outside, two three-foot tall pieces of exterior decoration. This involves a ladder. On the ladder I removed the porch light fixture. It exploded on contact, which was no worry because it was do for replacement after the holidays anyway. We removed the lightbulbs and installed one of those devices that turns your socket into an electric outlet. Then we plugged up the trees. Now, from a light switch inside, the trees can be lit. This is better than going outside and plugging and unplugging the things. We have simplified our pre-fab, pre-decorated trees.
By next year I’ll look for the technology that allows me to simply think “Light” and it will be so.
We went for a run this afternoon. I felt pretty bad at the start, with poor form and sore and sluggish in all the wrong places. So, I decided, the solution was to run more. I did the regular route through the neighborhood. That intersects with our town’s time trial route. When I’m riding that I sometimes see people running, so I decided to jog down that road. There’s a turn and I can make a big circle around a few neighborhoods. I managed to get in five miles. (I do not know what is happening.)
One of those miles actually felt good. And after a snack the rest of the day was grand.
We have company. Brian, a former co-worker and old friend, is in town to cover the big game. Scooby, a college friend, is in town for the big game. She joined The Yankee and I at the Celebrity Home Run Derby, benefiting the Hudson Family Foundation. Here’s the highlight package the athletics department produced:
Patrick Nix and Frank Sanders were there, too. They did not recreate their famous play:
Nix came off the bench, cold, against Alabama to throw that ball to Sanders on his first snap after Stan White went out with an injury. Nix is supposed to have said that he was born to complete that pass. Several years ago he told me once that, when he was a child, he tried to block Van Tiffin’s field goal in the Iron Bowl. He crouched behind his sofa and leaped into the air as Tiffin made The Kick. How could you not love a guy who believed like that?
The stars are lining up for Auburn. Sanders is being honored tomorrow. He was there with both of his college quarterbacks. Stan White made an appearance in the putting part of that video, alongside Philip Lutzenkirchen and PGA winner Jason Dufner. A large handful of great Auburn names have been filing into town for the big game tomorrow.
Had dinner at Niffer’s. They were packed, as you would expect for a game day weekend where everyone is waiting. Brian snagged us a good table.
We’ve all stayed up too late. Too busy with tasks, busy with visiting and busy with waiting for the game tomorrow. We’re going to have a great time, of course. Who’s going to win, I don’t know.
