So at noon my friends and I all joined the virtual queue on the Canes site to await the chance to order Natty tix. Barry, for example, a Canes Club Member 30 years and Med School Faculty member for 34 got special preference. Norman and Mike, second generation Canes with TONS of tickets and seniority, also qualified. I've been a Canes Club member 35 years, and contributed well over $100K to UM, so I got priority.
Ha! None of the above happened! We ALL got shut out! I only heard of one person getting tix, and it was Alex's friend -- I think he had the savvy to join the queue at the earliest time. We all watched our devices for 30 minutes, a little stick figure man who moved very little. Finally the little man disappeared -- "Sold Out."
Honestly, I was relieved. Barry is the only fellow schlepper who didn't buy tickets in the earlier opportunity -- Eric, Norman, and Mike all had tix, but needed more. The thought of crappy seats, even for face value of $800 or so, coupled with the no real tailgating for me, made my sofa a VERY attractive option.
Also, I've been to 2 Nattys for the Canes -- '84 and '88, so this is hardly a "once in a lifetime" thing for me. Finally, Scott decided to fly down from D.C., since his CNN wife will be off in Davos, and so now I can host a proper watch party. I have a large arm of Stoli Elit which will be drunk, and I will order some mandarin oranges to mix in. Scott loves the politically incorrectly named Chinese place Takee Outee, and so we will likely order from there, and watch, and laugh, and drink -- heavily for me, at least. I already told my trainer no workout Tuesday am -- he said ALL of his clients, Canes fans all, have done the same.
So game plans are set. And on Sunday, we meet D1 and the boys in the Grove, and spend some time with them, and then take Little Man home with us. That means there'll be bagels at first light, before I re-home him Monday early afternoon -- then maybe a nap before Barry and family arrive.
Last night, Wifey hosted her mah jong friends. I poured Lili a few Negronis, which gave me my own license to have a few Belugas myself, and I was feeling fine. I applaud those who avoid or limit alcohol. I'm sure it's very healthy and wise. But for me -- well -- a couple of pops really makes me happy.
Anyway, I started feeling romantic -- must have been the fact that 5 mid 60 women were just down the hall. And I wanted a cookie, but no way was going to drive out to get one. So I went to my trusty UberEats app and saw a company called Crumbl -- cookies in 20 minutes!
I ordered a dozen, and in no time they came in a pink box. I brought them to the breakfast Knock, as my late suegra called the Nook, and made some women VERY happy. One said "Wow -- my husband is great, but not THIS great." Yep, I told her, it's how I roll in these parts...
So it was a lovely Tuesday.
Thus far, 2026 is starting out pretty, pretty, pretty good. Then again, I thought 2020 was going to be a banner year -- the one of "perfect vision." Instead we got the Plague. 2021 brought us Wifey's stroke and the death of our dear sister Elizabeth. Amazing these events are now half a decade in the past.
The lesson is you never know WHAT you're gonna get. The only thing certain is that however long I have left to live -- that number is DECREASED by one day, tomorrow. So I think I'll savor tomorrow, and all of the days.
I was reading some psychology about negative nancys -- the folks who put down everything and everyone. Turns out they have grave insecurities about themselves, and feel by demeaning others, they raise their own self esteem.
I can't imagine anything more pathetic. I want others to soar -- especially my family and friends, so they can treat ME for a change.
All I know is, the upcoming days are those of excitement. And, as it turns out, minimal hassle of fighting crowds at Joe Robbie. So Go Canes! Go 2026. May they both be winners.
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