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!)
No comments:
Post a Comment