The Bombs Bursting In Air

Last night around 9pm, I heard what sounded like an explosion. This was followed by more thunderous, booming racket. The animals heard it too and they scattered in fear, confusion, and curiosity. Phoenix, of course, was the first to find the source of noise.

I found him staring intently out the back window at fireworks lighting up the sky. He couldn't take his eyes of them - crazy cat. My first thought was, "Who the hell is shooting off fireworks on a Sunday night in September?!?!" Then I remembered...it's September 11, 2011.

I stood in silence and awe, watching the show as it kept going on and on. And I found myself hearing these words in my head:

"And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there"

Have you ever really listened to the words of that song? I mean really thought about them and what it meant to people when they were written? We're so far removed from that revolution, that unfaltering demand for freedom, that we often take it for granted - I know I do. Last night, I most certainly did not. Sure there were tons of TV and radio shows about 9/11, articles online and in the paper, but none of them moved me as much as this simple declaration of liberty.

Things Mark Does to Try to Get My Attention While I Watch The Game

Mark and I are a mixed couple. He is not a football fan. I am a fanatic. He has improved over the years and somewhat learned to accept my rabidness when it comes to my Huskers and the excitement I have for college football in general. He can't stay interested in an entire game.

Last year, I started keeping track of the annoying things he does during games just to get me to pay attention to him. It's too soon to tell whether I will need to continue that this year. In honor of the first Husker game of the season, this is one of my favorite lists from last year.

The Game: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Missouri Tigers

The Date: October 30, 2010

The Deeds:

1. Let our indoor cat, Phoenix, out.
2. Brought the neighbor's cat in.
3. When I got up during a commercial to put the neighbor's cat back out, he locked the door thinking it would be funny.
4. Despite repeated requests that he start the grill during the 2nd quarter so it would be ready at halftime, he didn't start it til halftime and then gave me a hard time about not helping him with the food when the coals were finally ready during the 3rd quarter.
5. Let the dogs out on the front porch (with a barrier blocking the entrance so they were at least fairly secure) and then came back inside, leaving them unsupervised.
6. Brought me his laptop with a game set up for me to play in case I felt like doing that during the game.
7. Tried to dress our dog, Maddie, in his clothes.
8. Shut the armoire door blocking the TV.
9. Stood in front of the TV.
10. Engaged in nearly non-stop inane chatter.