Rollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll....

Tide, Roll! This is beyond my wildest dreams. I take back everything I ever said when we got Saban. Every single thing.

Tonight I had my first beers since the surgery. They were good. I am all kinds of good. Still not allowed to jump, but I can damn sure celebrate with the best of them tonight.

Ramma Jamma Yellow Hammer...

Gas Shortage in Georgia - Athens Bound? Take Note!

For those of our dear friends making the trip to Athens later today - fill up tanks in Alabama, because you may have serious trouble finding gas in Georgia, particularly in and around Athens.

Apparently, there is a major gas shortage in the state of Georgia.

Not really a surprise, given the recent hurricane. What would suck more than driving to Athens and seeing the Tide lose to Georgia? Driving to Athens and seeing the Tide lose to Georgia, then not being able to come home to the safe bosom of Tuscaloosa to fret properly.

Elway

John Elway is apparently engaged to a former cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders.

Pity my spouse's head exploded right before the big presidential debate.

And surprise, surprise, my dog is apparently pissed, too. Sort of.

New Dylan Album on NPR!

Yes! Yes yes yes! Happy happy dance.

NPR will stream Dylan's new album, "Tell Tale Signs," for a WEEK before it is released on October 7!!!!

I've already got the alt "Mississippi" from Amazon, and I'm drooling waiting for this new addition to my (frighteningly large) Dylan collection.

Can we get a move on w/"Chronicles: Volume Two" now, please?

USC Lost!?!

I know I'm heavily drugged with pain meds at the moment, but I could swear I just watched USC lose to Oregon State. I swear.

I did! I did see USC lose to Oregon State!

OMG. This Saturday just became even MORE important. I can't think about it...it'll make the insomnia worse and I'm already too keyed up about the debate that may or may NOT happen tomorrow night.

USC lost. USC = Losers. Wow. SEC baby, SECCCCCCCCCCCCCC.

I know we are a young team. I know we're a year ahead of schedule. I know we're going into Athens to play a VERY GOOD team. But I have hope. Either way, I'm looking forward to a long evening of nothing but serious SEC football. Roll Damn Tide.

Halloweeeeeen...mwaahaahaa

I've been really struggling with what to do for my Halloween costume this year. I think it is a safe bet I won't be going as a doctor/nurse/patient or anything else remotely related to health care (shudder). Personally, I found this to be extremely helpful with lots of tips to ensure I am as scary as possible for the holiday (which is my favorite).

Thought perhaps Sex and the City character - Carrie if I'm having a particularly frightful hair day (though right now I couldn't walk in Manolos...who am I kidding, I've NEVER been able to walk in Manolos). Someone also suggested I could dress as a Saints cheerleader or possibly a player (though given the year we're having, I'll need lots of bandages and that hits a wee bit too close to home).

Still debating. I'll let you know. Suggestions?

Barry Hannah Reading Tonight

Author Barry Hannah is giving a reading tonight at the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa. For those who don't know, Hannah is the writer-in-residence at Ole Miss right now. He is also a former University of Alabama creative writing and lit professor. Reading tonight, 7:30 p.m., Bama Theatre on Greensboro Ave.

Really, you don't want to miss this..you just don't.

My Dog Has Made His Football Pick

Even my dog is in on the Bama/Georgia action, it seems.

Chico Seymour Hoffman's pick!

Dear doggie, I hope you are right. Now get off my computer, I've got work to do!

Okay NOW Let's Talk Some Serious Football...

I mean serious, serious football. I live in Tuscaloosa. I grew up (mostly) in Tuscaloosa. I went to college in Tuscaloosa. That would be Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as in THE University of Alabama. Roll Damn Tide.

This is a HUGE weekend for us. This is the biggest matchup we've had since Saint Nick The Overpayed (?) arrived on campus. It is time to put up or shut up.

And for once, I'm not talking about Bama/Auburn or Bama/Tennessee. No no noooooo. I'm talking about the Georgia Bulldoggies.

Alabama vs. Georgia, EPIC

Alabama CAN win this game. Will they? I don't know. And even if I did, I wouldn't say. I don't bet on my teams, I don't verbalize my thoughts before games...sometimes I write them out in drunken emails on the Friday or Saturday night before (usually Saints games)...but even then only to trusted inner-circle types.

I don't hate Georgia. I really don't. I considered going to school there, even. I like the mascot. Way cool dog(s). I made countless road trips during my college days to Athens, Georgia, and saw some of THE best bands ever. In 1995, while on our honeymoon in beautiful St. Lucia, we spent a blissful afternoon at the sports bar at the resort watching Alabama obliterate Georgia 31-0, and recruiting new Tide fans (Roll Tide, Mon!). Good times.

But that has nothing to do with football now. Not. A. Thing.

Let's just say I am really looking forward to Saturday night. I may be homebound, but we are having people over for a mini-party (only those closest who don't care if I haven't dusted in a few weeks...no sense in risking it all to play Martha Stewart). I have promised to "behave" no matter what - this means if we make a key interception and run it back for a touchdown I am NOT allowed to jump up and down. I can flap my arms wildly and scream to the heavens, but no jumping. If things are going badly, no stomping of feet. I am allowed to curse like a sailor and walk (gingerly) out of the room to pout.

At least the ground rules have been all laid out ahead of time. But if you are a true football fan, you must understand how very difficult this will be. This is precisely why I hated working in the press box during games.

Blackout in Samford Stadium? Bring it ON.

Roll Tide, ya'll.

Happy Anniversary....

I still find it rather hard to believe, but as of 7 p.m. tonight, my spouse and I have been married for 13 years. Late last night I decided to dig up the wedding pics, just to see. Wow, we look young.

And on a related note: Happy Birthday, Bruce Springsteen. Yes, we got married on his birthday - but I swear that wasn't the reason. We picked the date because it was a (rare) open football weekend in Tuscaloosa...so more hotels and less traffic (we were wed at Canterbury Chapel on campus). I swear. Honest. You NEVER schedule a wedding down here during a game weekend if you want anyone to show up. Even open bar doesn't get 'em.

Which reminds me: no we didn't have this played as I walked down the aisle, but if we did it again you BET we would...

And yes, I'm still glad I got off that front porch and into that car.

No no NOOOOOOOOO

Please tell me this isn't happening...I know I am in "staying positive" mode throughout all this...but I'm having a hard time coming to grips with news that I have been invited to attend the presidential debate this week at Ole Miss, as media. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Obviously going is out, seeing as I can't really ride in a car for more than oh, say, 10 minutes or so.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Think positive. Positive think.

Nils Lofgren Yankee Stadium Song

Despite being a lifelong Red Sox fan (my father's best friends were from Baaaahston and taught me well), I am terribly saddened by the passing of Yankee Stadium.

And, being a lifelong Springsteen/E-Street fan, I thought I'd pass along this free download of "Yankee Stadium," a new song by the brilliant Nils Lofgren.

It is free to download, it is on Nils' official site. So there you go. Good deed for the day, done.

And on a completely unrelated note: The Stooges have been nominated for the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Finally. I'm still waiting on the E-Streeters to make it in...hopefully next year?

I Need Flippers

Today I made my first attempt at swimming post-surgery. I don't know why I expected to get in the water and suddenly be able to pull a Michael Phelps. Still numb and weak, even in water. Oh well. One day at a time. Did 10 laps using a kickboard for support....s-l-o-w going. Very slow. But I suppose I should continue to be patient. Tomorrow will be a little better, I'm sure. (btw: two others in the pool with recent back surgeries...both MUCH older than me though...I feel like such a freak sometimes).
Kickboard, light stretching (ow) and attempts to raise up on the ball of my foot (didn't work, the muscles won't do what I tell them to do).

Now I'm wiped out. Completely. Didn't feel tired when I was doing all the stuff. Spouse had to yell at me to get out of the pool.

Night.