December 23, 2013 – Monday

8 degrees/snow showers/calm

Pentoga Road

It was a wild and wooly time in Packerland on Sunday. Though we came away without a victory, there was little doubt that Andy, Yooper Mark, or I, didn’t emerge as the real winners.

Thanks for the wonderful Christmas present, Andy. It was the best!

Yooper Mark was at the house around 9 Sunday morning. I have to admit; the three of us were like little boys on their first day of Christmas vacation; about to go sledding down a big hill after the first big snowfall of the season. Dressed in our snowmobile and ice fishing garb, we hugged and kissed Mom and Sargie goodbye and giggled our way out the front door to the truck.

In the drive, buckling up, ready to head to Title Town

A heavy snowfall accompanied us most of the way and there was one time when a car behind us decided to leave the road and visit the ditch. After a quick stop for a burger, we arrived at Lambeau Field with an hour-and-a-half to spare.

Even in wintry weather, Packer fans never turn down a good old fashioned tailgate party

Andy being checked by security

The game wasn’t really all that good. Though the Packers can be the NFC Division champions if they beat the Chicago Bears next week, really, none of the teams deserve the title. Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay, all three, lost yesterday. Unless there’s no small amount of divine intervention from God, whoever wins the division won’t last long when they begin playing some real talent from the other divisions around the league.

We yelled, we coached, we cheered and boo’d, but despite our best efforts, the Packers managed to repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot; or in their case, all twenty-two of them. In the end, we ended up on the short end of the stick.

Ben Roethlisberger, #7, Pittsburg's quarterback

Even with a loss, it felt as though Christmas had arrived. Win, lose, or draw, it was fun to be in the big stadium with 80,000 other fanatic Green Bay fans. The wind continually whipped the heavy snow in our faces and the noise level was often deafening. It was Packer’s football, just the way it ought to be.

We didn’t arrive home until 11 last night. Brutus met us at the door with vicious barks and growls and I had to first identify myself so I wouldn’t have a bulldog wrapped around my face. I certainly don’t worry about a stranger walking into the house uninvited. That’s a good thing.

Mom and Sargie spent Sunday doing girl things. They went shopping, stopped for a Coke, and did whatever it is that girls do when they are completely unencumbered with us male folk. Sargie said it was a lot of fun.

Andy wants to get a haircut at Barber Bob’s later this morning. He also says he needs to do a bit of shopping. I want to stop by the Verizon store and shop for a new plan. ATT has poor reception out where we live, but Mel, who has Verizon, can sit in the living room and easily talk on her cell phone. Maybe it’s time to switch?

Going fishing this afternoon has entered our conversations, depending on what the weather is doing. Whatever it is, we’re not going to take life too seriously.

Meanwhile, I need to get another cup of coffee and think some deep thoughts. As you well know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…