Doodles and Basketball!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

It all began with a basketball game.  My aunt is here from Indiana celebrating the holidays with us.  This is the first year without my Uncle Bob and it feels so different, but we are so glad that my aunt made it out here.  Even more so since our 70 degree weather at the beginning of the week turned to a nasty snowstorm on the day she was flying in.  It’s a good thing John is not a meteorologist because he kept saying the snow wouldn’t stick because of the high temperatures we had earlier in the week, but when we went to walk the dogs, I noticed a lot of white stuff on the roads and all around us and I was certain it was not cotton candy. 

 

The problem started on the way home from the airport when my aunt reminded John that his alma mater, Purdue University, was playing in the Maui basketball tournament at 5 pm.  My aunt is a huge Purdue fan and they both agreed they wanted to watch the game.  The second problem happened when I confused my dogs by sitting in the living room with John and my aunt pretending to be interested in the game.  My dogs know I do all my TV viewing back in the bedroom and they must have sensed something was very off, because no one was screaming, “no, don’t make me watch this stupid program,” while John flipped channels. It is just better if the adult occupants of our house split up at TV time and I have long wondered about couples that watch every show together.  Either one of them is drugged or had a lobotomy early on in the marriage so there would be no power struggle for the remote.  I cannot stand the constant channel flipping and it is important that I show no weakness or preference while he is flipping, because if he even sees one twitch, hears a gasp, or senses in any way I do not want to watch a show that is the one he will stop on.  I have tripped myself up several times and had to leave the room after he stopped on a show about Wildebeests and another time on how boxes were made and if you are thinking maybe John is hoping I leave the room, you would be right.  We have not been married this long by watching TV together or not understanding the subtle signals given off by our mates.  You don’t have to hit me over the head with a brick to know that John is sending me a message when he stops the TV on a turkey hatching show right after I get done saying, “what goofball would find this show interesting?” 

 

So, the dogs must have been on edge as I sat in the living room being nice, instead of periodically yelling out, “oh for God’s sake, you aren’t even watching this snoozefest, give me that remote.” What the dogs did not bank on either was my aunt’s enthusiasm as she watched the game.  I made a mental note while the game was going on to never EVER go with my aunt to a sporting event without first making sure we were not sitting together.  She is the kind of person at an event that would make me want to cry out, “PUT A SOCK IN IT, LADY.”  My poor dogs were so on edge because they would just nod off and she would scream, “DEFENSE!” and jump up from the chair as if she was right there under the basket waiting for a rebound.  Vern went to the farthest dog bed in the living room and put his head on his paws and stared at her wide-eyed.  Fudge jumped up on the couch next to me and kept looking at me like “what are we doing out here with these nuts?”  If I went in the kitchen, both dogs followed me and I kept telling them it would all be over soon.  Unfortunately, the worst thing happened that could have happened and the game went into overtime.  I only knew that from my location in the kitchen because of the screams and hand clapping coming from the living room.  At that point, I started mentally debating with myself as to whether or not 6 pm was too early to say I was going to bed.

 

It got really scary in the last few minutes of the game because we got the ball with seconds left and needed one basket to win.  I could tell by the way they both stood up and approached the TV that the TV was in extreme danger if the game did not go their way.  I tried covering the dog’s ears, but two hands did not cover four ears.  At one point, I asked if anyone would mind if I turned on the white noise machine to drown out some annoying noises, but I not sure anyone heard me because my aunt was yelling, “come on, boys…NO FOULS…don’t let him have the ball,” and you get the picture. In the future, I plan on ordering the dogs and me black and gold earmuffs and monogramming them with PU so everyone either knows we are quietly supporting Purdue or just thinks we think watching a basketball game when a Hallmark movie is on stinks.  

 

Vern slept with us most of the night, which is rare.  I would wake up to him putting his paw on me, I guess to check that he really was awake and the scary basketball he had been dreaming about was only a nightmare.  Fudge didn’t sleep with us because Vern was hogging most of the bed, but she stayed nearby.  I said a prayer that my aunt didn’t get as worked up with the football games played on Thanksgiving Day or my dogs were going to need thunder shirts to get through the weekend and John and I were going to need a bigger bed. The really funny thing was when the basketball game was all over, my aunt turned to John and said, “did Purdue win the whole tournament?” and he told her that was only the runner up game and the championship game was next.  I think she said she wished she had known that, because she wouldn’t have gotten so excited.  The dogs and I were in agreement that we wished she had known it, too!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laurie, I agree that those who cook for us deserve some leeway, but I also feel that the person who paid for the food gets a vote in what's on the TV. Of course, you don't have to share that with John. ;)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Annoying noises.  I'm surprised Fudge and Vern did not like the horrible sneakers and their squeakers on the gym floor. Ugh. I really detest watching basketball... 

Go Purdue.   

[BG and Gavin]

I love watching sports on tv but not basketball. I feel if you catch the last two minutes of the game, that's all you really need. Hope you and the dogs have recovered.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Wendy, Thank you! We are happy my aunt came and we have had a fun time shopping and visiting.

Karen, Well, to be fair, if someone was cooking for me, they could watch whatever they wanted....LOL :) I am so glad she turned off the TV and didn't spoil dinner :)

Cyndi, Glad your son got home and got to watch his game on TV :) By the way, Drew is my very favorite boy name and would have been both of my daughter's name if they had been boys. I still regret not naming one of them that name. Enjoy your son!! My daughter arrives next week from North Carolina and we cannot wait.

Christine, Thank you! I bet Shelby is used to all of those games by now :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lonnie, Thankfully, John is not that bad about sports. I am also thankful I have many other rooms to go to when he grabs the remote. LOL Poor Libby.....Vern and Fudge understand :)

Ricki, Oh, that sounds so much better than basketball and a screaming aunt :) LOL

Nancy, LOL...John collects knives. I hope he never finds that station. We are out in all weather with the Doodles. Vern cannot miss a walk.

Gail, Thank you!! You are lucky!

F, Surely you knew by now we were all strange :) Glad you had a full house, but also that you had some "me" time. I did the same thing on Thanksgiving....I didn't want to be rude so I tasted everything too. LOL

Nancy, I agree about dogs. Thank you!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Oh Laurie, how I can relate to this one.  SPORTS!  This is my husband's middle name and I am sure although his mother did not give him one, I know he slipped it in there at a very young age.  There is not a game he misses or listens to in the car and at times it drives me crazy.  We also watch television in two rooms only to save the peace and for one of us not to get hurt.  Xfinity even has a channel on Sundays that goes to every single football game and their plays that are taking place at that moment and he sits in his chair and I swear he goes into a coma wtaching that station.  He doesn't hear us, see us or even know we are in the house!   Glad you Aunt got to visit and see her favorite team with John!  Poor Fudge and Vern.  Libby is so accustomed to it now, she just lays down with a sad look as if to say "what can we do Mom"?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

One of the things I'm thankful for every year is that no one at my house likes to watch sports programs!! This year we pulled out some old DVDs and watched "Mamma Mia!" and "Grease". It was so much fun! I'm glad your aunt arrived safely and that you have the doodles to share your sports pain!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My warning to leave the den for the upstairs TV,  is the knife sales programs.  My dh has even told me that the knives they sell are not quality and he would never purchase one, BUT HE STILL WATCHES!  I can't believe you were actually out in the snow with the dogs.  UGH!  I might be cured of my love of doodles + snow pictures.

[Gail and Bailey]

I can happily say that no one in my family likes to watch team sports on TV!   Glad your aunt got to be with you for the holiday! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

What strange humans in your family. Didn't anyone tell them it was ONLY a game? By yesterday I had 4 adults and 4 dogs in my house and as soon as I got them all home, after a ton of appetizers and a humongous dinner at my cousin's house, I crept onto my bed. I just had eaten entirely too much, which was not my fault since there were many favorite foods and I like to be polite and taste everything. I plan to be better next year but I will probable forget by then.