The Orange and Green

 I say it all the time, but I kind of wish I wasn't such a rabid Canes fan. With the time I spend watching them, traveling to games, and talking about games, I could, I don't know -- do more significant stuff.

Yesterday they were in the first ever College Football Playoff - really their first chance to proceed towards a national championship since they were robbed of their 6th ring in 2003. They were underdogs at Texas A and M, and Barry said he'd drive down to watch here -- I brought in sandwiches from Boulangerie, a French place owned by Venezuelan Jews. Josh might join us later on.

His coming over to watch with Wifey and me brought back a memory of 41 years before. I had a nasty cold, and decided to skip the rainy, cool Orange Bowl where we were hosting BC, and their little annoying QB Doug Flutie. Barry felt bad for me, and so came to our shag carpeted apartment -- Eric and Dana went to the game. I had a decent TV -- a Sony 19 inch color job, bought as a gift by my sugar mama Wifey -- not yet Wifey -- just bottom squeeze. The TV sat atop our cinder block and plywood shelves.

The game became an infamous one, as the little vantz Flutie threw a Hail Mary at the end, to beat us. Barry fell to his knees and buried his face in the carpet. I did the same. Had there been phones with cameras, I have zero doubt Wifey would have taped us. We were forlorn. We were disgusted.

Yesterday, in a much more meaningful game, it ended VERY differently -- a freshman DB made the game ending INT for the Canes,and we won. We jumped up and down on our arthritic knees (not Josh -- he's young) and were thrilled. I poured us a celebratory 3 Tito's, and we basked in happiness.

Wifey and I had to leave -- delayed birthday party for Little Man. We arrived at a happy house -- 2 boys and their neighbor friend Riley -- Riley's Mom Sunny, and D1's pilates friend Harley -- all eating pasta brought from Pasta Luna, a great MiMo place. D2 and Jonathan and Betsy joined, too, and there was a toy Australian Shepherd bunking in, too -- D1's German friends were off visiting a sick mom, and D1 agreed to watch the cute little dog (I said maybe it was a lamb dog, given her size).

We lit the 7th night Chanukah candles, and sang happy birthday to Little Man. He and his brother kept emerging in a series of different outfits -- kind of like mini Village People. Jonathan and I had some Ketel, the better to endure the noise and tumult. It was a delightful night -- one I think will stay in the memory banks for as long as my memory banks operate.

Meanwhile, the upcoming NYE cruise has a wrinkle. The Canes play Ohio State, with whom we have a quarter century score to settle, on New Year's Eve! And, we'll be in San Juan, an hour ahead, which means the game WILL be going on as 2026 comes in.

This happened once before -- Wifey's 60th cruise. Canes were hosting FSU and Norman and I watched a lot of the game during dinner, to the annoyance of 2/3 of the wives. Eh -- what are ya gonna do?

This trip, Wifey, Loni, and Donna KNOW their 3 husbands are ultra orthodox followers -- they will understand there WILL be watching among the NYE festivities. 

And if the Canes can upset the heavily favored Buckeyes -- well -- there may be midnight pool dips...

Regardless, it's been a great season -- native son Mario Cristobal's 4th. He built the team from the lines out, as he said, and they're doing great. I'm VERY glad I renewed my season's tickets -- year 47 now. And I plan to indoctrinate Little Man into the fraternity.

On their way out, Barry and Josh and I said the Chanukah prayer as I lit the electric menorah. I just lit the 8th and final bulb -- the holiday is over tomorrow.

Thursday is a big celebration for the birthday of some other Jewish guy over 2K years ago, and we will gather at Sadelle's in the Grove for Wifey's birthday -- a number not to be published, nor revealed she was born when Eisenhower was president...

Then we'll pack, and get ready to jet off to San Juan -- mustering with Mike and Loni and Barry and Donna for a night there before leaving on the Explora ship -- first to the East -- Antigua and St. John, and then back to San Juan for NYE and that football game.

Loni's birthday and our 39th anniversary will be celebrated aboard -- assuming the US Navy doesn't mistake our ship for a Venezuelan drug vessel and cut short our voyage.

Nah -- likely won't happen. Now if the Canes can just muster better offense...