NCFleischers: 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