As parents, we emphasize honesty (among other virtues) even when the truth may not be beneficial. Examples abound ... in our family, when we were still living in Florida, Will accidentally knocked down and shattered a lamp of mine that I had since I was 10 years old. When I came home from work, instead of waiting for me to discover the tragedy ... he walked up to me and told me right away, "Dad, I broke your lamp ... I'm sorry". How does one get mad at that? So, I channeled my inner-Patrick ...
My favorite story on this is from my childhood ... er, rather ... Terry's childhood and my high-school years. On a Saturday night, Mom and Dad went out for dinner. Terry and I had the house to ourselves and boy did we party!!! Terry got himself a big bowl of chocolate ice cream ... and as he made his way upstairs to watch TV in Mom and Dad's room (surely in their bed, too!), he slipped, he fell, and chocolate ice cream went everywhere on the green steps. There was an especially large stain that didn't come out. Terry was in a panic (as much of a panic as a 6 or 7 year old could be). "What do I do?" I told him that the best thing would be to tell Dad right away and be honest about it. (Meanwhile, I'll be waiting in my bed acting like I'm asleep). Thinking back on it ... who am I kidding ... Terry, as youngest, could have covered the whole house in chocolate ice cream and Dad wouldn't have done anything. Am I right? (11 heads nodding ... make that 12 heads nodding)
Well, Dad comes home ... very jovial ... a couple of Johnny Walker Reds in full effect ... and Terry greets him in the kitchen. "Dad, I'm sorry ... I spilled chocolate ice cream on the steps". "... Terence Alowiscious O'Houlahan Fleischer ... you're the best boy in the whole world ... yes, I'd love some chocolate ice cream" or something like that. Off. The. Hook.
Terry floated upstairs with a confidence so high ... "I AM the greatest boy in the whole world!"
Five minutes later, Dad went to his den for a minute or two, then made his way up the white steps. At the top, he looked down the green steps and saw the horror of a stain so large, so egregious, so ... chocolatey!!! "JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH ... WHO MADE THIS STAIN ON THE GREEN STEPS", he shouted. Terry, once again, stepped up ... but his words were not as quick or with enough vigor to match Dad's. In a matter of fifteen seconds, Dad had Terry AND I on our hands and knees scrubbing that stain out. Unbelievably, that stain seemed to come out a lot faster under Dad's watchful eye than the ten minutes or so that we spent on it an hour before.
So, keeping a secret in the North Carolina Fleischer family is hard to do. The kids know it ... and prod us with, "It's not nice to lie"; "Tell us the truth"; followed by a hundred questions ... "Are we going to Florida? Are we going to California? Are we going to New York? etc."
Towards the end of the Summer, we told the boys to do a PowerPoint presentation on the state of Vermont ... facts about the state, its economy, recent happenings, famous people / businesses from the state, etc. They didn't know why ... but they did the presentation while I was on a business trip. When I returned, they presented the information to Shelly and I. Afterwards, I told them that our special, secret trip this year was to go to a farm in Vermont. We were going to work on the farm ... wake up early, tend to chickens, milk cows, pick fruits and vegetables, ride horses, etc. We answered all their questions with this in mind ... and the boys peppered us with questions, both individually and together. Shelly and I would have to discuss each day's set of questions that we received from the boys, just to make sure we were on the same page. As we were nearing our departure date, I was actually looking forward to going to this fictional farm.
We (or I) made some mistakes along the way. Early in the summer, I mentioned that we might go to a restaurant where you pick your steak and grill it yourself around a large communal grill (I had visited such a restaurant on an earlier visit to Wisconsin years ago on business). Will did a simple Google search on restaurants that allowed you to grill your own food and the first link was for the restaurant in Wisconsin. D'oh! Luckily, there are similar restaurants in Texas, California, and New York.
The day before our departure, I had printed off the tickets for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball game we were going to (the day after the 49ers - Packers game) and mistakenly left them on the printer. Charlie printed something and when he retrieved his paper, saw the tickets with the Brewers logo ... and quietly smiled to himself. We gained a recruit in emphasizing how much fun the farm would be ... Will was still not convinced ... Max was thoroughly convinced and adamant about not getting into a canoe, even if it would take us to a small island for a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. (I'm telling you, this farm trip idea was really going to be Awesome!!!).
Will noticed that we were packing his Green Bay jerseys and sweatshirts the day before our departure ... recruit number two was secured to keep the secret for the lone stand-out - Max. Even when we were at the airport, and Max was with me as I showed him how to check-in and get our airline tickets, there was not a peep as the screen showed us the weather in Green Bay ... not until we got on the plane later in the day, that he finally put one and one together ... "So, that's why they were showing us the weather in Green Bay back in Raleigh!"
On to Green Bay!
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Secret Trip, Part 2
Ok ... so we won the auction. Setting the scene a little ... this was early December 2011. Green Bay, meanwhile, is marching towards an undefeated season - finishing 15-1, before getting upset in early January at home by the eventual Super Bowl Champions, NY Giants (there, Mark ... I hope you're satisfied!).
With the season winding down and the pressure of the Playoffs mounting, the charity was having a hard time getting in touch with a contact within the Green Bay Packers organization. Just prior to Christmas, I was finally able to trade voice-mails with Lisa Weghe, Coach McCarthy's executive assistant.
Schedules for the 2012 season were still months away from being determined, so we decided to wait until after the 2011 season had completed and the schedule for 2012 had been released to start discussions. As soon as the regular season was over, the NFL released a preliminary schedule ... not with dates, but essentially with who each team would play (not knowing if at home or away). So early in the year, we knew they would play San Francisco, but were not sure about location or date.
With all this uncertainty, Shelly and I decided it was best to keep the trip a surprise. We usually like to plan a summer trip (London last year; New York and DC the year before). We were thinking of California - San Diego, specifically. I had a known business trip in San Diego the last week of August, but had to hold off on everything till we figured out the surprise trip. We did start talking about a trip to San Diego for the summer (which may be pushed till 2013, hopefully)
Alright, that last paragraph was pretty weak. Woe is us. The economy is sputtering at minimal growth, and I'm lamenting about our summer plans. Ladies and gentlemen, in the event I ever run for public office, please strike that last paragraph from the blog or I'll be really embarrassed. Oh, and don't mention taking baths with Julie as a child. Other than those ... wait ... okay, 1989 - 1993 were pretty embarrassing, too. I'm sure there are others more qualified for public office ...
Finally, in May of this year, Lisa and I spoke and discussed the trip and our options. By then, the schedule had come out and lo and behold, San Francisco was playing Green Bay the first week of the season. In discussing our options, I immediately rule out any dates in November or December. It's Wisconsin. It gets cold. They played the "Ice Bowl" in Green Bay. I've had to watch my share of San Francisco Giants games at the Stick on July evenings - the coldest I've EVER been. I own 12 Croix de Candlesticks (you know, if you stayed till the end of an extra-innings night game at Candlestick, you got a pin ... well, a cold, hypothermia, AND a pin ... with the motto: "I came, I saw, I stayed"). Other options included dates in September and October against New Orleans (intriguing) and Jacksonville (bleh). But seriously, was there really another option. San Francisco. Early September. The boys were not in school anyway. Stars were aligning. (A couple even came by and knocked on our door late at night asking if his pregnant wife could come in. I told them that we had a swing-set in the back that they could use)
Now, we're getting serious. Date. Check. Delta Miles. Check. Hotel Reservation. Check.
Now, its time to mess with the kids.
Tell them about a surprise trip. "Where are we going, dad?" "Can't tell you, it's a surprise"
Now, I can keep a secret about as well as Mom does ... which is to say, I can't. (Every year, we tell Mom that Shelly is pregnant, then see how long it takes for someone in the family to call. This year, it took seventeen minutes ... Mom called back with news.)
Shelly is worse.
So we REALLY had to work hard to keep this a secret
Stay tuned for Part 3 - The Deception
Obligatory picture of flowers to keep Mom's attention. These are Green Bay Packer flowers because ... because they are green and gold (so are their fire hydrants ... and their trash bins ... everything in the town is green and gold!)
With the season winding down and the pressure of the Playoffs mounting, the charity was having a hard time getting in touch with a contact within the Green Bay Packers organization. Just prior to Christmas, I was finally able to trade voice-mails with Lisa Weghe, Coach McCarthy's executive assistant.
Schedules for the 2012 season were still months away from being determined, so we decided to wait until after the 2011 season had completed and the schedule for 2012 had been released to start discussions. As soon as the regular season was over, the NFL released a preliminary schedule ... not with dates, but essentially with who each team would play (not knowing if at home or away). So early in the year, we knew they would play San Francisco, but were not sure about location or date.
With all this uncertainty, Shelly and I decided it was best to keep the trip a surprise. We usually like to plan a summer trip (London last year; New York and DC the year before). We were thinking of California - San Diego, specifically. I had a known business trip in San Diego the last week of August, but had to hold off on everything till we figured out the surprise trip. We did start talking about a trip to San Diego for the summer (which may be pushed till 2013, hopefully)
Alright, that last paragraph was pretty weak. Woe is us. The economy is sputtering at minimal growth, and I'm lamenting about our summer plans. Ladies and gentlemen, in the event I ever run for public office, please strike that last paragraph from the blog or I'll be really embarrassed. Oh, and don't mention taking baths with Julie as a child. Other than those ... wait ... okay, 1989 - 1993 were pretty embarrassing, too. I'm sure there are others more qualified for public office ...
Finally, in May of this year, Lisa and I spoke and discussed the trip and our options. By then, the schedule had come out and lo and behold, San Francisco was playing Green Bay the first week of the season. In discussing our options, I immediately rule out any dates in November or December. It's Wisconsin. It gets cold. They played the "Ice Bowl" in Green Bay. I've had to watch my share of San Francisco Giants games at the Stick on July evenings - the coldest I've EVER been. I own 12 Croix de Candlesticks (you know, if you stayed till the end of an extra-innings night game at Candlestick, you got a pin ... well, a cold, hypothermia, AND a pin ... with the motto: "I came, I saw, I stayed"). Other options included dates in September and October against New Orleans (intriguing) and Jacksonville (bleh). But seriously, was there really another option. San Francisco. Early September. The boys were not in school anyway. Stars were aligning. (A couple even came by and knocked on our door late at night asking if his pregnant wife could come in. I told them that we had a swing-set in the back that they could use)
Now, we're getting serious. Date. Check. Delta Miles. Check. Hotel Reservation. Check.
Now, its time to mess with the kids.
Tell them about a surprise trip. "Where are we going, dad?" "Can't tell you, it's a surprise"
Now, I can keep a secret about as well as Mom does ... which is to say, I can't. (Every year, we tell Mom that Shelly is pregnant, then see how long it takes for someone in the family to call. This year, it took seventeen minutes ... Mom called back with news.)
Shelly is worse.
So we REALLY had to work hard to keep this a secret
Stay tuned for Part 3 - The Deception
Obligatory picture of flowers to keep Mom's attention. These are Green Bay Packer flowers because ... because they are green and gold (so are their fire hydrants ... and their trash bins ... everything in the town is green and gold!)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Secret Trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin
Sorry for the delay in updating everyone. I didn't think Will would send out such an evil picture of me to everyone ... but alas, it had a purpose. By infiltrating Lambeau Field, we were able to completely throw off the whole Packers' organization and allowed the 49ers to come in and take the win in the opening weekend of the season. Yes, we had a part in it. But before we get to that ... let's go back a few months.
Late last year in 2011, I heard of a charity auction for Vermont farmers who had suffered tremendous losses due to Hurricane Irene and the subsequent floods that hit the region. I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and tell you how great I am at charitable giving, but we are all proud of our influencers who have shown that giving is a responsibility and duty we all share and we should contribute freely with purpose and sincerity. There were several auction items up for bid, but the one that caught my eye was a meet and greet with Green Bay Packer Coach Mike McCarthy (along with field passes and tickets to a game).
Going back a bit further ... in 2010, Charlie and Will had become Green Bay Packer fans. Partly due to the Madden Series of football games for our PlayStation3. Charlie discovered that the only team that he had a chance against the exceptional powers of his father's thumbs were the Green Bay Packers and their excellent Quarterback and Wide Receivers. Will's close friend up the street was a Packers' fan (family from northern Wisconsin) and joined in on the fun. Their fanaticism with the Packers grew strongest in late 2010, as Green Bay ran through the end of the season and through the playoffs to a Super Bowl victory in Feb 2011.
You might ask, well ... what about Max? Max is a San Diego Charger fan. Several reasons ... notable is his affection for a certain Uncle Frank from San Diego. He, too, was enamored with the Chargers in Madden (after all, the Packers were already taken by one of his most likely opponents). In fact, he freely states that his favorite football player is Chargers' Tight End, Antonio Gates, a huge, ex-basketball player, who has become one of the best receivers in the league.
The 49ers run last season may have converted one ... but not the oldest (clearly, because at age 13, he knows his father is an idiot) ... and not the youngest, who may be the most strident San Diego Charger fan EVER. More to come later on this.
OK. Packer fans as sons ... charity event ... put in a bid ... get out-bid ... put in another bid ... wait ... wait ... bidding to end ... bidding ends. I have the highest / winning bid. WOW!!!
Now I have to figure out how to tell Shelly.
"Honey, I'm not going to sit here on my high horse ..."
Stay tuned for Part II ...
But, first, a few pictures to highlight our trip
Vince Lombardi - famous coach of the Packers
"Curly" Lambeau - Founder and first coach of Packers (pointing to the Packers' Gift Shop, as noted by our tour guide the day before the game)
Late last year in 2011, I heard of a charity auction for Vermont farmers who had suffered tremendous losses due to Hurricane Irene and the subsequent floods that hit the region. I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and tell you how great I am at charitable giving, but we are all proud of our influencers who have shown that giving is a responsibility and duty we all share and we should contribute freely with purpose and sincerity. There were several auction items up for bid, but the one that caught my eye was a meet and greet with Green Bay Packer Coach Mike McCarthy (along with field passes and tickets to a game).
Going back a bit further ... in 2010, Charlie and Will had become Green Bay Packer fans. Partly due to the Madden Series of football games for our PlayStation3. Charlie discovered that the only team that he had a chance against the exceptional powers of his father's thumbs were the Green Bay Packers and their excellent Quarterback and Wide Receivers. Will's close friend up the street was a Packers' fan (family from northern Wisconsin) and joined in on the fun. Their fanaticism with the Packers grew strongest in late 2010, as Green Bay ran through the end of the season and through the playoffs to a Super Bowl victory in Feb 2011.
You might ask, well ... what about Max? Max is a San Diego Charger fan. Several reasons ... notable is his affection for a certain Uncle Frank from San Diego. He, too, was enamored with the Chargers in Madden (after all, the Packers were already taken by one of his most likely opponents). In fact, he freely states that his favorite football player is Chargers' Tight End, Antonio Gates, a huge, ex-basketball player, who has become one of the best receivers in the league.
The 49ers run last season may have converted one ... but not the oldest (clearly, because at age 13, he knows his father is an idiot) ... and not the youngest, who may be the most strident San Diego Charger fan EVER. More to come later on this.
OK. Packer fans as sons ... charity event ... put in a bid ... get out-bid ... put in another bid ... wait ... wait ... bidding to end ... bidding ends. I have the highest / winning bid. WOW!!!
Now I have to figure out how to tell Shelly.
"Honey, I'm not going to sit here on my high horse ..."
Stay tuned for Part II ...
But, first, a few pictures to highlight our trip
Vince Lombardi - famous coach of the Packers
"Curly" Lambeau - Founder and first coach of Packers (pointing to the Packers' Gift Shop, as noted by our tour guide the day before the game)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Shhh
Later this week, we head out on a secret trip. We have not told anyone (mostly anyone) where we are going. Only Shelly and I know. Our destination takes us through two connections by plane ... so even when we get to Atlanta after the first leg of our trip, the second leg won't necessarily provide any clues to our precise destination. Look for plenty of photos next week upon our return!
Ballgame in Durham
We took in a ballgame this weekend ... the last game of the regular season for the Durham Bulls. We sat at the top of the stadium ... which is still close to the action in this small ballpark. An adorable 12 year old girl sang the national anthem ... and minutes later sat right in front of us for the game.
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