When Cultures Clash

So I have a dilemma... it's not really a dilemma because I know what I'm going to do but it is a culture clash none the less.

Our season opera tickets for Orphee fall on Super Bowl Sunday. {gasp} I've had season opera tickets since 2002. It used to be my father-daughter date and now thanks to the divorce it is my mother-daughter date. Anywhoo back to the point...I'm a pretty big football fan I consistently root for the Patriots and have well before they started actually winning Super Bowls. I play in two Fantasy Football leagues and I came in 2nd in one league and 3rd in the other. I haven't missed a Super Bowl in years...and I mean years.

Now the good news is the opera is at 2:30 PM but it is an hour away if traffic cooperates and it goes until 5:30 PM. So I'll still get to watch most of the Super Bowl but I'll miss the pre-game stuff. So my plan at this point is to go to the opera and then go to a friend's house to watch the majority of the game.

My wonderful husband's response was "well I'm sure the opera people don't think anyone there would be so average as to like football." He likes to pick on me for my eclectic mix of interests. It is part of what he loves about me...but he loves to pick on my dichotomy.

So what are you doing for the Super Bowl? Do you care who's in it or do you just like the fun of it? Or could you care less?

My Weekend...in Summary

You know it was a busy weekend when you are happy to be back at work to relax....

Friday the weather started to decline while I was at work...it started snaining (a cross between snow and rain) but the roads were fine no biggie. So when I got home the hubby and I went to Lowe's...
{A brief history...when I moved in with my husband I had a 30-32 inch TV and he had a 50 inch...mine went in the basement. Well a few weeks ago the big TV died...people went blue and then the screen went black. It was going to cost $750 to fix so a replacement was coming. My husband wants a 54 inch flat screen mounted above the fireplace. I wanted to eventually change the color in the living room. So we painted this weekend in anticipation of the new TV that we will get soon.}

We bought lovely light gray paint and dark gray paint...tools...etc. We went to dinner at Panera (I could live there), to the pet store and then we went home for the night. We decided we would wait until the next day to begin painting. So we cuddled on the couch with the puppies and watched Walking Tall and Numbers.

Saturday with rain coming down we started cleaning the room and patching holes to get the walls ready. Then we started painting. We painted from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a brief break for lunch (cold meat sandwiches) and dinner (amazing buffalo chicken sandwiches thanks d.a.r. for the recipe). And following painting I got a crock pot of chili going (I'm not a big fan but J loves it so...) The funny part was the puppies...they would have crazy moments...then try to lick paint...then curl up on the couch. They were distressed we knew this but we wanted them to be out while we worked. They wanted us to stop working and pay attention to them. We got looks the kind of looks that break your heart. So we would take "union breaks" J would go smoke...I would smother puppies with love. It seemed to help. But they loved the end of the day where we curled up on the couch with them.

Sunday we were going to go to church but it was a bit too icy so we decided we'd stay home and play it safe. So we started painting. Then took a break to go to Lowe's to get a few more supplies, Farm Fresh for some groceries, and then Taco Bell for some lunch. Then we came home and painted some more...until kick-off. The puppies had another rough day lacking attention but again they got to cuddle during the Super Bowl with us so that worked out well.

I woke up a bit tired and a bit sore from a long but productive weekend. Pictures to follow soon!!!

Forgive and Forget

I love football. I play in two fantasy football leagues. And many football players in my opinion are pampered and spoiled beyond what they should be just because of what they do. (this is true of most professional athletes)

When Michael Vick got arrested for dog fighting I was appalled at the dog fighting and I applauded the NFL and the law for punishing him for his crime. Michael Vick has served his time for the crime he committed. He is now supposedly working with the SPCA to teach young adults about the harms of dog fighting. But apparently PETA does not think this is enough and has been quoted as saying Michael Vick should not be a role model to any child. Now I do not agree with dog fighting in any form...and I believe you should be punished for your crime...but I believe once you have served your time you should be clear. Michael Vick has served his time. The NFL has him on probation of sorts to come back and play. His career may never be the same. At this point I do not think he should be treated any differently than any other player. I think we need to teach children that role models are human...they make mistakes...they are punished for their mistakes...and then we forgive them and go on. Just as we should with anyone else. So Michael Vick may have made mistakes...but I think he can still be a role model assuming he has learned from them and is honestly changing.

As Christians we are called to forgive...are professional athletes above that?