I love watching football. I grew up in a football loving family—my brother played, my dad coached, I cheered when I was young and twirled when I got older. So I probably enjoy it more than most women. I don’t have cable (I’m not really much of a TV watcher) so in the fall, I subscribe to Sling, an app where I can watch ESPN. I cancel it as soon as the season is over.

I especially like watching college ball. But I was a messed up girl this season. Both of my sons graduated from UGA—go dawgs! I live in Tennessee—so go Vols! My very very much loved daughter-in-law graduated from Alabama and was in the marching band there—so roll tide! AND Kenn spent part of his college days at Ohio State—go buckeyes! If you have followed the rankings this season, you will know exactly my dilemma. I’m still enjoying it, though!

On another note, Beldar III will be replaced this Tuesday with Beldar IV. If you aren’t aware, I named my first pacemaker/defibrillator Beldar because it felt like I had an alien in my chest. That one lasted about two and a half years before the battery died. (In case you don’t know, when the battery goes out, they replace the entire device.). Beldar II also lasted about two and a half years. When it was time for Beldar III, I was living in Murfreesboro and my cardiologist was with Vanderbilt. They could tell which lead to my heart was draining the battery so they decided to replace it, too. That became a four hour surgery instead of 30 minutes to an hour because they had to cut the old lead out of my heart. But here I am, seven and a half years later, a happy girl! The thought of having to get my chest cut open every two years didn’t thrill me!

When my battery starts to go, my chest starts playing a tune for about five seconds every day. Jonathan, my oldest son, wanted to see if he could hear it, too, when he was visiting. The time chosen by Beldar III was 8:52 AM. When it started it’s tune (bee dee bee dee etc.—high then low note), he looked at me with wide eyes and said, “Mom! That’s frightening!!!” The nurse at my cardiologist told me they could turn the sound off if I came into the office. But since they are about an hour away, I decided to just let it go, as I’m up by then anyway. Then the time changed. Now it’s 7:52. Well, ok. I’m up then, too, most of the time. THEN….my Texas family went on a Thanksgiving week cruise together. (There were 19 of us.) I was in Central Time Zone. Beldar played his merry little tune at 6:52 AM every morning. So, on vacation, I got an early wake up call every morning whether I wanted one or not!

I’m looking forward to being on the other side of Tuesday. And, as of this blog post, I can say GO DAWGS!!!