We’d just finished dinner, chicken (and fake chicken) and cheese quesadillas. Yum. I was washing a pile of dishes — dry skin cracking beneath near-burning water and tangerine scented suds. The new Gustafer Yellowgold album was still spinning on my phone, which was plugged in 18″ from the double sink in the middle of the kitchen cabinets, when the alert notification popped up. It was 6:22pm by the time I’d dried off my digits and picked up my HTC One M8: Girl Scout Meeting, 6:30pm.
Gulp.
I screamed down the hall to my wife and daughters. In a flurry, they were dressed and out the door. Late, sure, but present. That counts for something, right?
Our week day life isn’t super busy, generally speaking. By choice, we’re not one of those families running from one thing to the next, idling in fast food drive-thru lanes, and eating meals on the road. But last night, with the Bear’s dress rehearsal for next Monday’s elementary band concert until 5:30pm, a quickly made and eaten dinner, and then a night of decorating our house for Christmas on the docket, we had a lot going on…for us. And then my phone reminded us of that Girl Scout meeting. This is why we can’t have nice things, like tickets to Big 5 Basketball games in Philly.
I’m a Villanova alum. Ok, not really. I didn’t graduate but I went there for a while and loved my time on campus as a working adult student in their Leadership program. You know by now, I’m assuming, that I’m a Michigan State Spartan at heart since childhood but I’m a ‘Nova Wildcats fan too. Last night, the undefeated Wildcats (fresh off a beating of my arch rival Michigan Wolverines! Thank you kindly for that Villanova) did battle against LaSalle in the first Big 5 game of the ’14-’15 season. We’d have loved to be there but flute and quesadillas and Scouts and Christmas decorations and family life once again got in the way. Ain’t that always the way. Yes, the answer is a resounding yes.
Thankfully, the free TuneIn app I had previously installed on my phone to listen to the home broadcast of Detroit Red Wings hockey games also has a bevy of college sports broadcasts — 85 college team to be exact, including my beloved Villanova Wildcats basketball — meaning we never have to miss a game again, no matter which direction family life is pulling us in. It’s to be expected that we find ourselves tailgating at home during the holidays a lot more these days and it makes so much sense: comfy PJs, warm house, no $20 parking fee, and delicious home cooked food.
*I’m not kidding, I rely on TuneIn A LOT! The app is reliable and amazing for cheering on my teams near and far.*
After Girl Scouts, pajamas, teethbrushing, my Spartans losing a heartbreaking overtime squeaker to Notre Dame on TV, and an impromptu dance performance by my youngest girl, we tuned in with TuneIn to listen to the beginning of the Villanova v LaSalle game while decorating the family room and kitchen table before bedtime beckoned my sleepy girls away down the hall…and before a Thursday that will have us to school 45 minutes earlier than usual for AM flute practice. I’m tired just typing that.
Don’t let your life get in the way of keeping up with your team. Whether on the road in the family car or while out doing work in the yard (maybe dragging your hundred pounds of outdoor holidays decorations out front from the shed), fire up the free TuneIn app for Android or iOS and within seconds you’ll feel like you’re right there in the arena…and you wouldn’t have had to pay $20 to park or $12 for a watered down beverage. And don’t even get me started on leg room! Win-win, and hopefully a win for your team (unless that team is the University of Michigan).
#TurnTheGameUp with TuneIn this college basketball season!
A very sleepy Mouse helps me decorate and cheer on Nova.
Disclosure: I have partnered and was compensated by Life of Dad, LLC and TuneIn for this promotion.
