We started off our weekend with some trick-or-treating, and you can imagine my delight when Dak Prescott showed up.
Obviously he looks a lot younger in this picture than he does on TV.
Alex and his buddies had a blast trick-or-treating, and by the time we got home Friday night, we were all pretty much GIDDY with the knowledge that we didn’t have one thing on our calendar for Saturday. I had the best time doing some stuff around the house Saturday morning and afternoon; I wasn’t even deterred by the fact that Hazel decided that November 1 was a fine time for her inaugural dip in the pond behind our house. She ran out of the garage when I was trying to get some groceries inside, and when she got to the back yard, it was like she saw that water for the first time and thought, “TODAY IS THE DAY.” Thankfully she didn’t swim for long; I said on Twitter that it was like she experienced four seconds of pure joy and then about ten minutes of WHOA NELLIE, THAT WAS COLD.
I know this is so boring, y’all. I do apologize. And I haven’t even gotten to the part about the football game yet.
So.
As long as I can remember, my go-to activity during a nerve-wracking ball game – whether it’s football, basketball, or baseball – has been vacuuming. My vacuum has gotten through many a difficult game time situation, most notably the Bulldogs’ road win against Florida in 2010, the 2009 SEC basketball tournament championship, and just about every single game of the 2013 College World Series.
I get that it’s sort of a random coping mechanism, but win or lose, my floors are clean.
Lately, though, I can’t vacuum during games because Hazel is convinced that the vacuum is a monster that is intent on destroying our family. I honestly thought about recording her reaction to the vacuum cleaner Saturday afternoon, but she goes so completely cuckoo that it almost seemed insensitive to document the crazy for the internet. The fear is deep, and the fear is consuming, and the fear may or may not convince her that she needs to attempt to grab the base of the vacuum with her teeth.
ALLEGEDLY.
I say all of that because Saturday night, when Mississippi State played Arkansas, I was as nervous as I’ve ever been before a game. I have no idea why. But I was SICK with nerves. Maybe it’s because I was on campus for the last two games and felt on some level like I was messing with the Bulldogs’ mojo. I knew it would be a tough game – the Arkansas game always is – and it’s still a little weird to me that we’re ranked #1 because in my personal opinion we are far more comfortable when we’re a middle-of-the-pack team and have the opportunity to surprise some folks. Now we’re just a big ole maroon target, and it’s a whole different mindset.
I just said all of that like I personally have sacrificed countless hours to prepare for the season and maybe even participated in two-a-days back in August.
I may be taking things a smidge too far in terms of feeling a personal connection to this year’s team.
Anyway.
We were down 10-7 at the half, and despite a deep, almost visceral need to vacuum, I couldn’t because of Hazel. I’d already vacuumed Saturday afternoon, and I just couldn’t make her confront The Oreck Monster for the second time in a day. I had already cleaned my countertops to the point that I may have unintentionally scrubbed away a solid quarter-inch of counter height, and I’d also thrown out all the old mail / school forms / random pieces of paper that seem to multiply in our mail basket / catch-all bowl on top of the oven.
So. In the 4th quarter, right about the time that Arkansas was driving the ball and the Bulldogs were setting up for a goal-line stand, I decided that I might as well touch up the paint on my kitchen cabinets. And for the rest of the game, that is precisely what I did. I had a little trouble convincing Hazel to stay away from the wet paint on the lower cabinets, but by and large the painting soothed my nerves and convinced me that I would in fact be able to make it through the game without the assistance of medical professionals or, at the very least, a small defibrillator.
I give all thanks to the Lord and also to Benjamin Moore’s Wythe Blue.
So when the ‘Dogs finally intercepted the Hogs’ final pass into the end zone, I put down my paint brush and celebrated like a madwoman right here in the corner of my kitchen. David came flying down the hall – he’d been watching in our room – and after we celebrated and shared our relief that FINALLY, THAT IS OVER, I had to put my hands on my knees like I’d been running a half-marathon and needed a breather.
This is where I live, people. Smack-dab in the middle of the intersection of Neurotic and Over-Invested.
It took me a couple of hours to calm down from all my cleaning and painting and cheering, but I was just as tickled as I could be when I woke up Sunday morning with the memory of the Bulldogs’ win and the added assurance that my kitchen cabinets were a little more spiffy than normal.
So basically what I’m saying is that there were wins all the way around.
Hope your weekend was a good one!
Haha, I thought about you while we watched that game! I was a nervous wreck and we’re not even officially State fans (Southern Miss To the Top, haha!).
Loving this season for you. I know what you mean. I often have to leave the room when OU plays Texas.
BooMama you’re hysterical. I would love to come to your house and sit a spell. No, I would like for you to come to my house to watch the game so you could clean for me. When I get nervous watching Clemson play I should be more productive. I just tend to run outside with a can of diet pepsi and see if I can manage to puff down a Salem Full Flavor in the constraints of a 30 second timeout. Yes, I know smoking is a bad habit and very unlady like.
I’m coming to see you in Charlotte, NC this weekend and I’m so excited I could “holla”!
“This is where I live, people. Smack-dab in the middle of the intersection of Neurotic and Over-Invested.”
Lord have mercy, how I identify with that statement. I prayed for you Saturday night during the last drive by Arkansas. So glad your Bulldogs got the victory!
Just like you on these sports. If I have an emotional investment in the game, I just almost cannot watch it. Since I am a UT fan, I watched the last 19 seconds, and just as you said on twitter “It was delightful”. This is all my love/hate with sports.
Me too Margee! Go Vols and finally!
In other news, MY kitchen is NOT oh so clean. :(
Oh, HOGS…you’re killin’ me!
Your Dawgs had a great game, tho. :)
I spent Saturday afternoon at my sister’s house where we watched the FL/GA game downstairs while my girls and their significant others watched the Baylor game upstairs. Also in attendance were two other rabid Gators. When FL faked the kick and scored, well, it brought the Baylor watchers out on the landing above the living room to see what ALL. THE. SCREAMING. was about! We proudly join you at the intersection of neurotic and over invested!
Congrats on MSU winning again. What a great ride this is for y’all. Would love to see you go all the way and beat fsu for the national championship!
My Penn State Nittany Lions are NOT having a great season, but I have been having so much fun following along with Mississippi State!!
Yes, Laura!! I feel terrible for them. Thank goodness Ficken has grown into his position.
I would have been thrilled if my Hawgs had won, but I took solace in the fact that a loss to an unranked team would have probably been a Bad Thing for State, so it wasn’t as painful as that Alabama loss was. ( Or the Aggie loss)
Congratulations!
I felt exactly the same. Have the pleasure of working in Columbus (live in Alabama) and we all agree at work that we won’t be able to enjoy any more games, cause of the big old maroon target. But my floors, etc., haven’t been cleaner in months. And I’ve tried out all manner of new recipes while peeking at the TV with one eye, or listening to the silence or roar of the crowd and cowbells. It’s exhausting
Oh, I can relate in so many ways. I have three dogs that hate the vacuum cleaner with a passion. I have to put them outside before I start it. They attack it like they are saving me from some intruder.
And then when it comes to watching football. I can’t sit still when watching Auburn play. People laugh because sometimes I am the only one standing, but I have to be moving. It’s the only way I can get through a game! I am worn out by the end of the game.
I am right there with you! I was at the Kentucky game and I was a bundle of nerves and told my hubby that I needed laundry to fold. So, this past Saturday – I folded laundry. I could not even watch them game because of the nervousness. Auburn game was just as bad.
Happy for wins and happy to have laundry folded and put away (for a little while anyway)
Right there with you, sister. I could not sit & watch, so I cooked. This #1 stuff is hard!
I was wondering what your thoughts were for the uniforms State is going to wear for the Egg Bowl. They look awesome!
I am a life long Razorback fan (70 years and actually more fanatic than you are about the dogs), it was almost worth the loss to get to howl over this proclamation:
“This is where I live, people. Smack-dab in the middle of the intersection of Neurotic and Over-Invested.”
One time after a 7 overtime game, I took my blood pressure and it was 196/150 something–and this was in my 60’s–I may have to give us football!
Thanks for the laugh and congratulations to your team!