Spankin' Blue

I had taken two Advil even before we left for Barley’s the evening before, and woke to take two more around 6am. I felt pretty good when I finally got up for good at 7:40am. Mindy woke as I started out the door. I asked what time she wanted up. She requested 8:30am. She had plans to meet her friend Teri in Worthington for breakfast. I started coffee and exercised before taking Ykraps on his morning walk. I noticed plenty of folks driving by already decked out in their game day attire. Tailgating early, I presumed.

Coffee was ready and so was I. Mindy was up around 8:30am. And while she darted off to the shower, I darted off for my run. Only on Michigan Saturday will you find Buckeye fans out drinking beer and passing the football at 9-10am. I got a chuckle out of seeing more than a handful of households already partaking in pregame festivities. After my run I was hungry. I decided that a couple of fried eggs and toast was just what the doctor ordered. As soon as I woofed that down I got busy making some salsa.

I used a variety of freshly picked peppers still hanging outside on my pepper plants along with a dozen tomatoes I picked last Saturday. The only non-garden grown veggie was the onion. I made a double batch, one to take to Pat & Lisa’s and another for home. This has to be the latest that I’ve been able to use fruit from the garden.

After finishing the salsa I organized a cooler and then got a shower. Mindy called around 11:30am. She was just leaving breakfast and heading into Kroger. I told her just to meet me at Pat’s. I cracked a pumpkin ale then left the house at 11:45am. The game was just getting ready to kick-off. Soon others arrived. By the time the game actually kicked off another 4or 5 folks arrived. Pat’s finished basement sets up nicely for such events.

Mindy didn’t show up until 12:30pm or so. I was already having a good time, nevertheless. The Bucks won the toss and took the ball. This was the first time they didn’t score on the opening drive in weeks. Michigan drew first blood by kicking a field goal. However, we answered with a touchdown on the ensuing drive. The score held that way through halftime, although we did try to let them back in just before the first half ended but they couldn’t capitalize.

We held them on the opening drive of the second half and forced a punt. We ran the punt back for a touchdown but it was called back for an illegal block. Our cheers were quickly silenced. But, happily, on the next play, a hand-off to Beanie Wells, we ran about 65 yards for a touchdown. WAHOO! We cheered loudly again!! To our surprise, that was the end of the scoring for either team. The weather was sloppy, and Tressel took few, if any, chances. The game ended 14-3 Bucks! That’s four in a row – something unfathomable just a few years back. Go Bucks!!
I admittedly felt a little sad for Lloyd Carr and the way that he’ll most likely be remembered. Rumor has it, this was his last game coaching the Wolverines. He’s a winner and a fine competitor. He just couldn’t beat Tressel, who’s 6-1 against Michigan.

We stayed at Pat & Lisa’s for another 3 hours partying. Where’d the day go? Mindy and I finally headed for home around 7:30pm. There was some talk of us going out or making dinner, but I was buzzed and bushed! I snuggled up in front of the sofa and tuned into more football – West Virginia and Cincinnati. Next thing I knew it was 10:50pm. I woke up and went to bed.