Gone with the Wind

So I get up at 3:50 am—right after the National Anthem, but right before the coin toss. Perfect timing. Ready to go!!

Nice first quarter. At the break, I run down and get a bowl of bran flakes and a banana (I have always said being regular is the key to happiness—and in Farah bowel movements are considered a recreational activity—bonus!!!).

Of course, no Super Bowl is complete without a discussion of the commercials. Unfortunately, AFN doesn't carry regular commercials. Let me also say that I just don't think you can thank the folks who serve in the military enough. How are these two thought linked you ask? Well, every commercial break on AFN is an opportunity to thank the soldiers for their service to their country. Football players thank them for 'keeping us safe', tell them to 'stay safe' and that they are the 'real heroes.' I think it is very nice—until about midway through the first quarter (4:30 am or so) when the repeats start. By the end of the first quarter I start to moan quietly during each commercial break. In the middle part of the second quarter my ears start to bleed just a bit during each commercial break. Jeez, enough with the thanks—you can only thank so much before it gets annoying. But I digress—let us return from this commercial break.

The game was great—goal line stop with less than 2 minutes left in the first half. Then the Colts are stopped, and they have to punt. This is going to get interesting when…..NNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

With about 1 minute to go in the first half, a huge wind blew—and our satellite dish, so well anchored by some sand bags and a couple of concrete blocks—was moved just enough that we lost our signal. The screen went blue. I sat there for minutes, staring at the screen, not believing the game would not return. It never did.

Apparently we were not alone—around Afghanistan, the signal was…..gone with the wind.