If  there is one thing I’ve learned over the last few months, it’s that Southeastern Conference football and friends from rival schools don’t mix too well in my social media universe.  In fact, it’s causing my feelings about some people to change, specifically how I behave around them.

I’ve got a couple of really good friends that I don’t talk to, or a lot around anymore.  There have been so many things said on Facebook and Twitter that strike my heartstrings in such a way that I’ve lost the desire to communicate with them face-to-face.  I’m not talking about just from them.  I’ve done my fair share back to them, so it’s both of our faults.

I’ve blocked several people from my Twitter list, and I’ve closed off my Facebook status updates to countless people.  I’ve also trimmed my news feed back from seeing anything they have to say.  They’ve done the same to me, but I keep them as my “FB friends” instead of outright deleting to show them I’m not wanting to completely shut them out of my life.

I feel it’s a survival mode.  Not to save my life or theirs, but to try and salvage real life, real world friendships.  I couldn’t even look or talk to a couple of people in church today because it’s gotten so bad.

That is absolutely pathetic, and it’s bothering me that we’ve let status updates, tweets and football rivalries get in the way of being good friends.  There is so much more to life than this, but living in my state college football is practically a second religion.  It literally tears families and friends apart, and it has effectively started that trend in my own life.

What makes it so much worse for me is I graduated from one school and work for its chief rival.  I love both of these places dearly, and it absolutely tears me in half when I hear either side rip the other.

I know I’m making it all too personal for no good reason.  This rivalry was here long before me, and it will be here long after.  However, it’s making me miserable while I’m on this earth.  I love my alma mater, and I wouldn’t trade anything for my job and where I work.  I chose both these places, and they chose me.

I just wish I could sort out all these nasty feelings I’m getting toward people on either side.  It’s going to take a lot of prayer and time to heal these wounds.  This is not what I wanted my social media life to become.

I was born and raised in southeastern Alabama, speak without a Southern accent, have all my teeth (and zero cavities) and a well-paying job, live in a nice house and have a degree from the University of Alabama.

Wait … what?  You mean I’m not a redneck, and I went to Alabama?  That’s impossible!  All Alabama fans and graduates are toothless and uneducated rednecks!

It’s true, yet for many of my friends and co-workers, they love to throw the “Alabama redneck” title around.  I know many of them are not directing it toward me personally, but I have an unbelievable amount of school pride.  When they make these generalized comments, it angers me, no matter how much I love them.

The worst part is they either went to schools in the Southeastern Conference with just as many redneck fans, or they didn’t go to college at all.  Heck, I know of a few that never finished high school.

I am beyond excited that Alabama won the football national championship again a couple of days ago, but I also loathe a lot of the “fans” that are now bringing all this stereotypical venom down on us alums.  Too many fairweather people have cropped up lately.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, especially to my friends from rival schools (that perhaps actually like me), please consider all of your loved ones before you spew your hatred for my school.  I honestly try to do the same for you and yours.

Besides, my UA degree got me an awesome job at Auburn, and I love it. 

I’ll take a step away from the “Life by the Numbers” series for a moment.  Heck, it seems like I’ve done that for many moments.    I’m trying to remember a lot, on top of finding the time to write them out.

It’s quiet in the house.  Our little princess is with Granny this week.  I miss her a lot, even though she only left this morning.  However, I really missed not getting a running hug this evening when I got home.  She’s my little girl, and I love her so much.

I celebrated my 33rd birthday Sunday.  I’m 1/3 of the way to 100.  Ouch.  I also celebrated it with Amy and Mom Saturday at the Drum Corps International (DCI) show in Atlanta.  That was a lot of fun, and I got to see quite a few of my old friends I marched with in Southwind.

I’m trying to finish a freelance Web project on top of the major-pain-in-the-rear site at work.  Because I’ve been so busy in front of the computer at work, I haven’t been too motivated to work on my freelance site.  I will, though.  That payday will be nice.

I’m also debating whether or not to officiate football again this fall.  I went to our association’s meeting tonight, but I’ll be honest.  I lost all interest halfway through.  I worked more games than anyone last year, and it did burn me out a bit.  The thought of being away from the house even one or two nights a week, on top of everything else, doesn’t appeal to me this year.  I hate to let Mike down, but I’m just not feeling it right now.

I’m getting ready for next weekend!  We have another Birmingham Ghostbusters meeting and workshop.  I had such a good time with the guys last month.  We’re getting closer to Dragon*Con, and I’m getting more excited.  I just have to figure out what the heck to do about parking in Atlanta that weekend.  Do we take a cab from the hotel, or do we get up super early and find a nearby parking deck?

I guess I’d better to get to bed.  I apologize this blog has been sort of inactive, but I promise I’ve got memories ready to go now that I’m thinking about my school years.  Have a great night!

Wow … Since my alma mater Alabama has been in a slump these last few years, not much has been said by friends and cohorts.  But let my boys put LSWho out of its misery and win the SEC West, and they come out of the woodworks!

You know what?  I don’t talk a lot of trash, but you haven’t had a reason to be bitter in a while, and I haven’t had a reason to rejoice.  So …

ROLL TIDE TOLL!!!!  SEC WEST CHAMPS!

I wrote on Twitter yesterday that I had a great story to share.  Well, being busy sometimes keeps you away from the computer.  So, here’s the story I promised yesterday.

We had two games in Tuskegee to officiate Monday night. I ran the clock for the first one, but umpired the second.  The two teams were Tallassee and Booker T. Washington.

Tallassee had a special needs player during my game, so the coaches told us when he’d be on the field.  It was our jobs to remind the BTW team he was out there and not be rough with him.  Our referee, Miller, told BTW, “He’s out here, and you can tackle him.  Just don’t do it hard.”

Well, Tallassee’s QB hands the ball to him, and wouldn’t you know one of the BTW kids plowed right into him.  Not hard, but it was quite the thump.  Corey (I think that’s his name) jumped right up with a big smile on his face.  He didn’t even get back to the line of scrimmage, but he was so happy just to have the ball.

That was before the end of the first half, and the teams played on without Corey on the field until the end of the game.

BTW was up 24-0 with about :30 left in the game.  Tallassee put Corey back in, handed him the ball and he ran probably 15 yards before he was tackled.  It’s clear that BTW was going to give him a shot a scoring, but one of the players accidentally knocked him down.  He jumped up shaking his head saying, “Man, I tried to miss him.”

The clock ran down to :10, and they gave Corey the ball one last time.  He took off down the field, and the BTW players were running behind him and diving off to the side as they pretended to try and tackle him.  The final buzzer sounded as Corey ran into the end zone.  Touchdown!

All of Corey’s teammates, as well as the players from BTW all gathered around him in the end zone to celebrate his score.  Corey even spiked the ball as the fans, players and coaches cheered.  We all went over to him and congratulated him on making the final TD, and the coaches told us how grateful they were for everyone giving him that moment.

That really touched me, and I can now say I’m happy I decided to officiate games this year.  That one moment made the whole season worth it.