Fascinated Me.

I realize it has been ages since I blogged. And now here I am blogging about football. :)

But actually this is more about how Social Media continues to fascinate me- despite the fact it has been part of our general culture for many years now. 

This photo is of Tee Martin. If at all you follow college ball - certainly Tennessee and SEC ball- you are well aware of who he is. 

He took over for QB after Peyton had played as much as the NCAA would allow. Tee took the Vols to the first ever BCS National Championship, and the Big Orange took home the trophy. 

And lets just say, it has been a very very very long time since 1998. In the past four years, we have fired one coach, been shat upon by another, and then as of last month fired ANOTHER coach. We shan't discuss the records of late, certainly not the conference ones. 

So now we have a new guy. A virtually unknown from Cincinnati. I should say -the last coach from that school went on to Notre Dame, and is now counting down the days to playing in this years National Championship - and undeated at that.  So this new guy- Butch - has come to town and in a matter of hours - CLEANED HOUSE. (Thank Heaven).  He did keep Jay Graham in tact on the coaching staff - another Vol Favorite - I imagine someone advised him to hang on to Mr Graham or risk being burned at the stake. 

So what is the point of all this rambling? As soon as Butch was official, less than a week ago, he made mention of hiring Tee.  And see, Tee HAD been at Kentucky - which was annoying as they are in the SEC.. but THEN Tee went out to California to work for that coach who shan't be named, but did Shat on Vol Nation.  

Here's where social media comes in. First thing this morning Twitter and Facebook were on fire with news that Tee and his whole family were heading to town to meet with Butch. Was it true? who knew. One person would pass on another's update and so on and so on.  Then the media outlets started to tweet and FB that Tee was headed here. But really? I mean they bleed Orange just as much as the next Fan, so in this case, I can't say the news outlets are completely objective.... 

but then, then, - THAT IMAGE ABOVE - that appeared in my feed. And that is definitely Tee. And that is defintitely our cute little 12gate airport. 

So I snagged it from my friend who lives in Nashville. She had snagged it from another of our friends who lives in SAN DIEGO. He had it before us! And within seconds of ME snagging it and posting it on FB and Twitter - there were loads of comments and re-shares from my friends. We're talking a span of MAYBE 90 seconds that this all transpired. 

Think about that. Yes, to some of you this is 'just football'  - but it could have been anything. Think about when Princess Diana was killed - that news broke late at night on a holiday weekend here in the States. And most of us probably remember where we were when that happened. Now fast forward to when Micheal Jackson died. We found out about that within minutes - mere minutes.  I remember where I was when I found out about that - on my smart phone - too.

Social Media. I still know some who say it is a fad, or it is just gossip and mean. And certainly, in some cases - it is.

Now think about Hurricane Sandy. One of the biggest and most impactful cities in the WORLD came to a screeching halt.  Social Media was an option for communication - whether for letting family members know one another was ok, or for asking for help, or simply sharing information. 

So. yes. I'm here giddy about the potential homecoming of a local favorite, and that I am able to keep up with it bc of FB and Twitter. I continue to be fascintated by the whole concept. 

(So much so that I actually got around to blog again!)

if i blogged for a living..

If I blogged for a living... I'd be broke. If, however, I got paid for how often I blog IN MY HEAD, I would be richer than rich. 

 Lovely shot here of the Mini with Pumpkin Guts. She had very little interest in actual carving of said gord, but she loved loved loved getting out the nasty insides. 

Two Quick Mini Stories:

#1
Picture it. Our bathroom, Eileen on stool while I am attempting to tame her hair. GMA on the TV, reporting the demise of Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez's relationship.

E: Hmmm. I wonder if Bella knows yet. 
Me: Why? 
E: MOMMY. BeCAUSE, if Bella doesn't know yet, then I can be his new girlfriend. But if she knows, then she will be. 
Me: Oh. Well, Bella had to be on the bus earlier, so she may not know yet. 
E (while sighing):  Oh, I am sure she already knows, I mean HELLO,  I am sure she heard it on the radio. 

Me. Stunned Silence. 
 
#2

 We have been a bit up in the air about where/what/when we were doing for Thanksgiving. Finally figured out we'll head on over to Memphis. 

Me: So we'll go to Grandpa and Beanie's for Thanksgiving, ok!?
E: Oh, ok cool.
**pause of perhaps half a second**
E: WAIT. That means Chuckie has to figure out how to get to Memphis!

(for any new readers.. Chuckie is our Elf). 

Me: well Chuckie always knows where you are. But we can send a note to Santa just in case, just so he knows to tell Chuckie.

E: NO. Here's what we do. We call Mimi (aka Sarah), and SHE can call Grandpa Roger (Sarah's Dad). Because remember Mommy, Grandpa Roger works for Santa (he does, he dresses as Santa during the holidays and reports back what kids would like to have..).  SO- Grandpa Roger can THEN call Santa, and that way we KNOW Chuckie will get the message to come to Memphis. 

Me. Stunned Silence. 

This girl will either be a super successful lawyer, or some sort of Spy Agent.

 

It occurred to me that some of you saw my post last Tuesday (which has since been taken down). For those of you who did, and then reached out expressing concern, thank you. You will never know how much it lifted me up.

For those of you who didn't, just know it was, to say the least, a rough day. 

And in the end, in a way, it was a day that needed to happen.  It needed to happen in order to get me headed in the right direction.  For as blessed as I am, there was a battle I was - and am- and always will be-  fighting everyday. A battle I was fighting with myself, one I didn't understand. A battle that just didn't feel right but also wouldn't stop. 

A week and a day later, there have been some changes. I have spent time with people who know how to help me get back to ME.  I already knew I had an amazing husband, and today that fact is simply more solid. I will never be able to put into words how much I love that man. Which I guess is part of the point - not saying it but showing it, right? 

I already knew I had a supportive family, and today that fact, also, is simply more solid.  I knew I had some good friends, but I didn't realize just how good they are and just how much they care about me. And as for a support system from my employer, wow. I will never be able to convey to my readers how amazing some of my colleagues are; there is simply no better place to work.

From here I move forward. Which is not to say I won't remember the past, for that is what has made me me, for that is what I take and make better, for that is what teaches us lessons.  But from here I move forward.  I have an army with me keeping me in the right direction, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. 

Stay strong, stay positive.

And I promise next time you come back, I'll have some goofy story to share about me or Mini. 

And, of course, Happy Halloween. :)