I’m feeling unusually fortunate today. Over the weekend, my husband was backing his work trailer out of the garage, not realizing the door had caught on a 32-foot ladder strapped to the trailer.
You can guess what happened next: the frame broke, and the garage door came off its tracks and got badly bent. We figured we were looking at a repair bill in the thousands, which would have been especially unwelcome with our Costa Rica trip only two months away.
Instead, a technician managed to save the door, put everything back in place and add a new seal for $175. I was honestly stunned. I thought there had to be a catch.
So that’s why I’m in such a good mood. Raise a celebratory drink for me, and let’s get into the sports stories of the day.
Monday night’s football game was a snooze, and Carson Wentz had a rough one. In past years, watching the Bills dominate would have been painful for me as a Dolphins fan. This season, though, the tank is on, and I’m not carrying any expectations. It’s strangely freeing.
At least Josh Allen is easy to root for. Even the families of opposing players seem to be fans. After the game, Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola’s son took off his dad’s jersey to reveal a Bills shirt underneath.
Hard to blame the kid, I suppose. Allen is a former MVP, after all. Still, the bigger surprise was DePaola’s wife chasing Allen down for a selfie. I’m not sure what the etiquette is for players’ families, but it struck me as a little awkward. It feels similar to reporters asking players for autographs or selfies—something that happens, but generally isn’t considered professional.
Speaking of Allen, Pat McAfee may have saved him from an accidental hot-mic moment before the game. Allen walked up during McAfee’s live segment, and McAfee repeatedly reminded him they were on television.
It was like telling a friend they’re on speakerphone. Allen might have been about to say something perfectly harmless, but McAfee clearly thought a warning was wise. Probably a good call. The internet can find enough to get upset about without an unfiltered Allen quote making the rounds.
Dianna Russini was always likely to find another job after the controversy involving Mike Vrabel. The question was who would hire her. She’s now set to host a show called “The Russini Report,” which debuts tomorrow on BetUS.
The production looks a little rough, and I don’t seem to be alone in noticing. More striking, though, is how Russini has discussed the controversy. In an interview with PEOPLE, she repeatedly presented herself as the wronged party and said she hoped her resilience might inspire other women. I found that difficult to square with the lack of accountability in her comments.
Still, the show will probably draw a sizable audience at first. Plenty of people will tune in out of curiosity, if nothing else. Sometimes that’s enough to get a new program going.
One quick personal detour: while many people were following election results last Tuesday, my husband, our dog and I were staying at a quiet nature retreat in Sparta, Tennessee, away from work and the news for a bit.
It felt like a little escape. The place even had one of those Japanese toilets, and although the hikes were rainy, the fall colors were lovely. Our dog Rocky had a great time at Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park.
And now, the dogs readers sent in this week: one reader shared a photo of three dogs sticking together, while another recommended a magazine’s annual dog-photo contest. A reader named Bob says his puppy Lucy sits beside his desk, where she can watch both the outdoors and his monitors, and apparently looks forward to the Tuesday dog pictures.
Craig also sent a photo of his dogs hanging out at the office. I have to admire the one making himself comfortable right on the desk. That’s about as good a paperweight as you could ask for.
And I’ll leave you with Ronin, a dog who goes skydiving.
