Babylon to Jerusalem

World Cup Fever? We've got it. Big time. Anyone who has known me for any amount of time probably knows that I'm not a sports fan. I played basketball as a kindergartner, and I was a terrible dribbler, so they didn't play me much. I also played softball as an 8th grader, which I did not enjoy. I cried before every game and was the world's worst right fielder (I've been told that it's helpful to open your eyes when you're trying to catch a ball - go figure). As a non-athlete, I wasn't big on watching games either (mostly because I found them difficult to understand - especially football - I still have no idea what a down is). Then I went to college, when Wake Forest was doing exceptionally well, and before I knew it I had become a basketball fan (which curiously ended as soon as I graduated). Fast forward 5 sports-less years later, and here we are: I find myself tearing my hair out, watching the USA vs. Algeria (via video-streaming on slow internet, no less) in a high-stakes battle to advance into the next round. What an amazing game! I sprouted at least 8 gray hairs during the match.

Michael, of course, needs no encouraging from me to watch the World Cup unfold. He's actually the one who infected me with World Cup Fever, and I suspect he's trying to win Fox over too. Fox isn't too keen on sitting still for an entire match, but with a couple of strategically timed snacks and one awesome blanket fort, we're able to all sit around and enjoy the Saturday and Sunday broadcast games. Now that the USA is advancing to the final 16, I have no doubt it will be some time before we are cured of World Cup Fever.