Day of Infamy

58 years ago today, a pretty young woman cataclysmically complicated her life by heaving forth barely 6 lbs of quivering protoplasm in the form of Yr. Obt. Corres. (In the years to follow, the poor thing made two more attempts to balance the cosmic damage, with mixed results at best.) Thanks, mom, I’ll be thinking of you at about 11 tonight.

I got a nice early birthday present yesterday, as my Buckeyes staved off a furious comeback by the opportunistic Michigan State Spartans to remain #1 in the nation. Comcast was kind to me this time, delivering the game for free on ESPN2, although I couldn’t be sure until game time, as their menu kept saying, “Either Ohio State-Michigan State or (insert name of inconsequential ACC game here). I wasn’t about to call them to find out.

A funny thing happened during the broadcast. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, referees at the game sported pink whistles, and at least one announcer was wearing a pink tie. At one point in the broadcast, one of the announcers was pointing this out, and (I’m sure I heard this right) said, “in recognition of Breast Awareness Month.” What ? Suddenly, I’m supposed to ignore them for the other 11 months? In the guy’s defense, he was stuck working with Bob Griese, easily the worst color commentator now that Keith Jackson no longer soils the airwaves.

Also for my birthday, I’m off to Milwaukee this morning to work for the week. More later from Cheeseland, or points in between.

11 Comments

  1. Happy happy. Must suck to be that old, though…

  2. Aw. I love old Keith.

    Hope you have a good celebration and one of those famous cakes! Happy Birthday!

  3. beatriz:

    It’s a-comin’, kathyr, and it’s gonna be a humdinger!

  4. Happy birthday, Phil! I thought of you when I read somewhere that Ohio was #1. I don’t even watch or like football very much, but your fantastic obsession has somehow broken through into my consciousness. Woohoo Go Buckeyes! Hope have a great birthday celebration.

  5. Phil:

    Thanks to all!

    Chuck - it helps to have a 90-year-old MIL in the house. Like the old Satchel Paige line…

    Kathy - Of course you’d like ol’ Hoss. He was such a west coast homer. I’ll tell you who I miss in the booth - Gary Danielson. He did Big Ten games for a long time, but now he’s wasting himself on SEC broadcasts. I’ve been promised a cake…next weekend.

    Robin - KathyR and I officially invite you to the dark side.

  6. Joking, of course. It irritates me to no end that both you and (Mukilteo Musings) Janet are older than I and still look about 10 years my junior…in that snotty Seattle glowing-health-good-exercise-habits sort of way.

  7. (Late) Happy Birthday, Phil! Good to know you’re not so very far behind me..!

  8. Meg:

    Damn, I’m belated, too. But happiest of happies.

  9. Happy happy birthday, baby.

    Watch out for the Cheeseheads. My partner is one of them, and has to be refigerated after opening.

  10. Phil:

    Chuck - I guess I have to own up to “snotty”, since I cultivate it! I could lose 10 pounds, though.

    Dick - you’re my canary! I just lower you down into the next decade to see if it’s safe ;-)

    Meg - thanks!

    Marc - thanks as well. Just so she doesn’t snowmobile around the living room. Question - they don’t wear those cheesehats to bed, do they?

  11. Opportunistic?! I’ve finally cooled down enough to wish you a belated Happy Birthday. I should probably say something like, “You’re No. 1, Phil!” but I’ll have to pass on that. My beloved SPARTANS and I can now focus on crushing those awful skunk bears. They are going to wish they were extinct.