Last Sunday, I watched the Super bowl for the first time since the Vikings fourth defeat back in the seventies, which broke my heart and hardened it against football.
We hates it, forever.
Of course, the problem is that I don’t hate football. I love football. When I was a kid, I loved it far too much for my own good. So, in keeping with the way I live my life, I avoid it. Why bring upon myself that brief entertainment that can only end in heartbreak and pain? Football, for me, was like a drinking binge: the hangover just isn’t worth it.
The last time I watched more football than I did this year was 1999, when my son Tyler played for State Champion De La Salle. The islanders lost only one game that season, to a team from California. Most games, they scored their first touchdown on opening kickoff. That’s how I like my sports: dominant and in the bag. Jay tells me its because I’m not a true competitor. He’s probably right; it was never the competition I enjoyed, only the winning.
That’s why after setting a city record my senior year of high school, I turned down overtures from the University of Minnesota. I knew I was way too small to be a successful DI hurdler and I hated the training. Like my daughter who is a whiz at math but hates it, I was a good runner but more than happy to never, ever do it again.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the Super Bowl. I did not care at all who won and was able to simply enjoy the game.
More importantly, on Monday night, the Johnnies came to St. Thomas to play basketball.
Lakers, Celtics; Vikings, Packers got nothing on Tommies vs. Johnnies as a rivalry.
St. Thomas beat St. John’s twice in football this year and made it to the national championship game. Yeah, the Johnnies aren’t foaming at the mouth over that at all.
The basketball team beat them up at St. John’s earlier in the season so Monday was their payback.
St. John’s is the only game of the years where the Tommies pull out the bleachers at the ends of the court. Standing room only, lots of student fans, boisterousness (yes, I mean drunkenness) and good fun all around.
I went with both my boys and my brother Bill, who is a Tommie’s alum. My folks were going to join us but in the end didn’t have the energy to fight the cold and the crowds. Ty didn’t bring Babalouie due to the aforementioned boisterousness. We wound up sitting with my brother in law, Mike.
It was a neck and neck game, the outcome of which was in doubt until the very last seconds when the Tommies managed to steal the ball and win by one point.
That’s far too close for me to enjoy: I like the blowouts. If the opponent is worth defeating, he’s worth destroying! That’s my motto. I would’ve made a good Hun.
Tuesday is the day I drop off my completed orders at the Picket Fence, pick up my check and new orders. This week, I completed a special order I’ve had for two months and completely dreaded doing. A customer had brought in a photo of an Icon and asked me if I could reproduce it in needlepoint only much, much bigger. I took one look at it and said “Yes!”
I always do that. I frequently regret my cocky assumptions.
This particular Icon featured a Virgin Mother who looked like she was twelve years old (which may be historically accurate) and a peaches and cream blond. Which I’m fairly sure is not historically accurate. The problem with the design was that Mary’s halo was festooned with apples, pears and flowers and she was holding a basket of grapes and flowers as well as the Baby Jesus. So much detail and I had to paint it in such a way as to preserve the glow of the halo.
All this on needlepoint canvas. And it was huge, so I could pack in tons of detail.
It was more work than I usually like to invest in one design. I charged accordingly and the client loved it so everyone was happy but I did tell the ladies at the shop that I would double the price if anyone else ever wanted that design.
I paint pictures for money. If that ever feels like work, I need to be paid exorbitantly for it.
Wednesday, Jay’s team played Augsburg, which is right here in town but still an ‘away’ game so I skipped it. Ty took Babalouie to see it, then dropped by the house afterward. Babalouie is just as in love with basketball right now as he had been with football last fall. In fact, as we snuggled in the recliner, watching Frasier, he told me that I needed to get a basketball and hoop.
Thursday, at Aldi, they had Avenger over the door basketball hoops sets so I got one. Next time Babalouie comes over, we’re playing.
It snowed a bit this week. As slow, desultory, nonchalant snowfall that seemed to say “This? I only snow like this when I don't care what happens.”
It was gorgeous and so light and fluffy that Zack was able to clear his car off by blowing on it.
Last night I watched the movie The Man From U.N.C.L.E. starring Army Hammer and Superman.*
IT WAS AWESOME!!
I never watched the show when it was on. I was too young, for starters. I was aware of it and I knew the two main characters were an American spy and a Russian spy. Aside from that, I have no idea how similar the movie is to the show.
But if the show had the same sense of humor and James Bond over the top cool that the movie has, I want to watch every episode.
Zack watched it with me and we shouted with laughter through lots of it. It has become our favorite Guy Ritchie movie and we’re Ritchie fans. My favorite moment was when Illia Kuryakin’s boat explodes in Napoleon Solo’s rearview mirror so Solo crushes the enemy boat with his truck.
Sound crazy? It is. I loved it.
Today I have to try to get some work done before getting all dolled up and heading out. I’m going to the theater with a group of my favorite people. Newsies is playing at the Orpheum.
*if there is such a thing as too handsome to take seriously, Henry Cavill comes perilously close.