Get Up Jerry....

Yesterday Karyl and I were watching the Minnesota Golden Gophers try and rally in the fourth quarter against the underdog New Mexico State Aggies.  Suddenly the stadium went silent and the announcers in a confused moment tell us that our head coach, Jerry Kill, has collapsed on the sideline.

Oh, dear God, no.  This man from rural Oklahoma (I think) walked into our hearts last winter after taking the job at the University of Minnesota.  He has made no promises, other than the team will work hard.  I can't believe how horrible I am feeling.

Minutes pass slowly.  Awkward cuts to commercials, players kneeling and holding hands - looking like I felt.

I turn to Twitter and we learn that he is being packed in ice - so maybe this incident is heat related....

Finally word comes that his wife has given the fans a "thumbs up" sign and I am able to breathe a sigh of relief.

This morning we read that he has had several seizures before and that heat and dehydration bring on the symptoms.   God willing, Jerry Kill will recover from this and learn to take better care of himself as he continues to coach our team.

Hurry back coach.

Down The Rabbit Hole...

This past week the television has been full of 9/11 rememberances.    Somehow all those memories have made me want to disappear down a rabbit hole and pretend the whole horrible business is not happening.  I have a mix of emotions - from not really wanting to revisit 911, to praying that we make it through the day without any more horror.

The past ten years have been difficult.  We are more in debt, thanks to two wars and we live now with the understanding that many people in the world hate us.  This has been a watershed decade.

I would like to say, "Thank you" to all the first responders who gave up their lives or their health to help others trapped in buildings or on an airplane.  The stories of your bravery, to save people you didn't even know are inspiring.

Peace.

Random Thoughts....

1. Love President Obama, but I am not so wild about delaying the EPA standards to give business a chance to get going.  I suppose those are the tough decisions one has to make as president.

2. I don't like Michelle Bachman, but it irks me a little that Perry from Texas is getting all the attention.  They both seem equally nutty, but Perry gets the nod just because he is a guy.

3. We had our first faculty member at school give a presentation about being gay.  A long overdue, watershed event.  This frees us to discuss this topic with a greater degree of freedom.  His presentation was serious and humorous, very well done.

4. Today the Minnesota Golden Gophers play USC in Los Angeles.  We have a new coach, Jerry Kill,  who has generated a lot of enthusiasm by not promising us big results.  The last head coach, Tim Brewster, started talking Rose Bowl right away, but his teams were very poorly organized and coached.  Last year we were last in the nation in quarterback sacks with nine.  I don't expect to beat USC, but I don't expect to get blown out either.  I anticipate a Gopher team that is in better shape and, over the course of the season, will surprise some teams.

Our junior quarterback, MarQueis Gray played wide receiver last year because Adam Weber was in his senior year.  Gray does not have a lot of experience at quarterback, but he is supposed to be the best athlete on the team.  I hope he has a good day.

5. My loving daughter is a rock star for putting a bike together that I mailed her.  The bike isn't very good, but I love her willingness to struggle with the rear wheel and rear derailleur until she could get it all together.  Tip of the hat to her.  Here she is at a Red Sox - Yankees game.  Thank you Skip Orlady...

6. Got another tattoo.  It is a bicycle cog with an eye of Horus in the middle.  I will say that Saint Sebrina's is the nicest tattoo parlor I have ever been in....


7. More later....