1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I’m just here for the snacks). Who’s your team? If you’re playing along today, but live outside the US feel free to sub your feelings about futbol for the more American sport of football. 

Well, let’s put it this way: we have paid for NFL Sunday ticket since, maybe, 2007 or 2008. We used to go to bars to watch but then we had kids. We love football! (And futbol, if we’re being honest, and for that I have two teams I like – Liverpool and Aston Villa). I am not much of a college fan, though I will – embarrassingly – root for FSU. I also don’t pick a team because I don’t want to be pinned to one franchise. We play fantasy so my team is the collection of guys I have.

2. What’s something you currently have a game plan for managing?

Life! Well, ok, that’s too big. Our busy life, is more like it. I live and die by the calendar. And my husband is currently programming one that works with my main calendar but works on a computer we have in a main area of the house so everyone can add things to it. It also has a grocery list that syncs to my phone!

3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What’s a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn’t as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside the US of A, but you can also answer the question this way-what’s a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party?

I do like wings but not saucy. I get the hot and spicy from Publix, non-breaded. I also don’t often tailgate but I feel like burgers is a go-to. If we’re having people over for viewing, I always make sausage balls with a tangy thai chili mayo, and I’ll also make jalapeno poppers and/or deviled eggs.

4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your ‘life playbook’ you think everyone should know?

I saw a guy crossing the road near my school today whose shirt said “Don’t let the bad days win” and you know, I’m going with that.

5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they’d like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like.

I am surprised how, as time passes after “major events”, people begin to pay them no mind. My current students have no frame of reference for it; neither do my own children. And in fact, report it’s barely mentioned in school. Even if, now after all these years we have uncovered other details surrounding it, it was still a shock to our whole country and deserves some mention.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My coffee feels especially comforting today, though not sure why. I slept pretty well but woke feeling discombobulated. However, yesterday was nice: I left work and met Ash at the brewery to discuss our competition with the owner. We have those details banged out now and can move forward. We had dinner (pizza for kids, sandwich for Ash, salad for me), then I worked on the pool a bit. The patches are holding so we can actually turn the pump on. It’s cloudy but not green, so that’s good! Around 7, we took a walk. While still humid, there was a breeze. We walked about 3.65 miles then I sat for a bit before going up to read until bed.

Today we have a cross country meet and a fantasy football draft right before the first game. I’m just trying to hold it all together!