Super fun Sunday

We had a great full weekend of fun and family. My sister Martha and Tony were in town before heading over to a meeting in the Bahamas next week. Saturday night we got together with Paul, Mark, David, Bridget, Martha, Tony for a dinner of fresh fish. (John and his group got 13 mahi mahi, Ron and Ben got a bunch of tuna and mahi mahi Thursday...all in all they spent 5! hours cleaning fish on Friday) we had a great dinner and then later that night John went to pick up his cousin Joe and Marilyn who were coming in from Scranton, PA.
Martha, Tony and Marilyn posed for a picture at the place Martha and Tony were staying at down by the boardwalk. After the last cookie incident...haha (that we are still laughing about) I made a big platter of cookies. They were all gone before the end of the night. Bridget took one, took a bite and said "Now that's a cookie!"
In the morning Martha and I took a walk and we passed several people we knew...all of whom said..."Are you going to the party? See you there!" So we were looking forward to a fun time.
Not everyone...as a matter of fact mostly everyone...really didn't care WHO won...because around here there are lots of Dolphin fans...like John and Bridget. (There were others in Dolphin gear too.)

Al was making adjustments before the game

when Madonna was performing at half time...some of the crowd got in on the dancing. Al called to the girls working inside to come out...they had fun
then Al grabbed a friend and joined in

Martha,Pat, Gayle and Marilyn and
plus Anne
we were having fun. The girl between me and Pat was cheering and ringing a cow bell...Al asked her who she was rooting for...her answer "I don't know. Who does Tom Brady play for?"
this is a bad picture really...but Martha's expression sums up the night which ended up with a great exciting finish. David and Bridget were dancing to a Bobby Darin song in his van while Destin rolled her eyes and assured me she was driving them home HAHAH When Tony started dancing with them Martha and I got a little nervous...we figured they all end up in a heap on the pavement...haha...but they did not.

We ate till we were full...everyone made something...fresh fish, crab, tuna, ribs, chicken, pork, veggies and dip, 7 layer dip and chips...etc. We saw lots of people...Martha enjoyed seeing old friends...Marilyn and Joe met all of our crazy friends...and we all had a great time!

Last Hurrah

After the big win against the Steelers...Al invited everyone back for another tailgate party before the big game against the Patriots. L.J., Al's partner in LongDoggers is a big Patriot fan...so one can only imagine the various bets/trash talk going on within the company.
Meanwhile the rest of us were just happy to know we were in for another fun time on game day. This week's party was bigger and better than ever. Eddie from ACE Hardware loaned a big blow-up projection screen TV. He also moved several large pallets of mulch to the end of the parking lot to create a wind barrier. ( It was going to be cold Sat night) The wall of mulch along with my brother David's over sized "van" created a nice bunker feel! (it also made a lot of people driving past do a double-take!!! haha)

David had a nice set up in his van as well...everything he needed to cook up some steaks and little neck clams along with some red wine for him and Bridget.
on the back side of the screen...everything was in reverse...that was the section reserved for Patriot fans. haha

as I mentioned...it was a cold night for Florida...low 40's and wind chill...so everyone broke out their coats, scarves, hats and gloves. Al set up a portable heater and there were two fire pits. (too bad no one brought marshmallows!)
The food was better than ever...pulled pork for sandwiches, clams, oysters (from Mark again) deviled eggs (I missed those!), beans and rice, brats. Duane brought two huge trays of shrimp, Al provided 40 lbs(!) of chicken wings...that Glenn J. and John cooked up. (John got Glenn's recipe...but I bought the wrong sauce...so we had to "create" our own...haha...it ended up being pretty tasty!) Mike R. brought stone crab claws and ceviche...yum! It was a feast! For dessert there was pound cake and I made brownies and cookies. Someone else also brought brownies. ( the only thing missing was s'mores) Everyone in town was there...I saw lots of old friends, met some new people and just enjoyed the atmosphere. Talked to one woman from out of town who wondered if we did this often...I explained what was going on...she commented that in her home town...no one would ever do anything like this...and even if they did...no one would come...which was too bad...because she could tell we were all having a great time!
The best part of the night was when it got a little later and all the desserts were gone...I had made some Cheese Wafers...which looked a lot like cookies to people who didn't know better. I purposely put them on the table with the "real" food...but later in the evening...someone spotted them and thought they had found a plate of chocolate chip cookies...hahaMore than a few took one bite of the cheddar cheese/red pepper wafer and spit it out because it was not what they were expecting. I was sitting at a nearby table talking to a friend when Bridget came up to me and said quietly "Whatever you do DO NOT eat any cookies...they're terrible! They're the worst cookies I've ever eaten." I burst out laughing...and told her I had made them. David walked up and chimed in..."Those cookies were the worst!" hahahahaha"
By this time I was in tears laughing...and Ron was laughing at me laughing...and I was telling the story to our friend Scott who was laughing as hard as I was. Right in the middle of the story a kid walked up and waved a cheese wafer at Scott and I and said "Do NOT eat these cookies...they taste like dog biscuits!" Scott and I were dying. His wife Tracy asked what we were laughing about...we told her and she said "Oh I tried one of those...it was savory not sweet...I liked it." So Scott pipes up "There good if you know what you're getting>" we all laughed...sort of a back handed compliment...but the whole thing was really funny. That was the best laugh I've had in a long time!
Today I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies to bring to LongDoggers to redeem myself...
I DO know how to bake a good cookie after all!
Too bad the Broncos lost...we sure had a great time watching the games this season...I don't know when I have enjoyed watching football more. Baseball season is going to be really dull after this!

Play Off Sunday

I have always enjoyed watching football and when your team is winning the games...it's even better! This football season we have had so much fun watching the Broncos and Tim Tebow...as they somehow made their way to the Playoffs. Unless you have been living in a cave...you know the story and just watching one unlikely win after another...has been a blast. Talk about exciting! And then you factor in a fan like Al at LongDoggers...and it just makes it even more fun.
Each week the fan base got bigger and bigger...most people who have been around here for any length of time are Dolphin fans...there are lots of Steeler fans in the area and New England has a pretty good following...since 1/2 the people here came from somewhere up north. The Broncos have never been a big draw...until they drafted former UF player Tebow. Because even if you weren't a fan of the Broncos...you were curious to see how he'd do.
Al happened to get tickets to the first improbable win... so we all went to LongDoggers to watch that game and look for him on TV. We cheered every time we saw Al, Grayson and Al's sign(pictured below)......and it just grew from there. Watching him watch Tebow and the Broncos pull off their string of last minute wins was as much fun as watching the game!
The last couple of weeks the group that frequents LongDoggers asked Al if they could have a tailgate party before the game. Last week (when the Broncos lost :( ) was the first one. There were oysters, clams, shrimp, brats, burgers and beer. The game was a disappointment...but then the Broncos managed to get into the playoffs anyway...so it was time to start planning
for this (past) week's tailgate. It was a perfect day...(check out the shorts and flipflops on January 8th!) More shrimp (Duane), more oysters(Mark), wings (Glenn), brats (??) chips, drinks, cake (who else? haha) and beer (Al). And best of all.... FISH, mostly from John, and more from Ron(some from Reid and Chandler and Chuck too) The kitchen cooked it in Al's batter....and it was good. As each batch came out everyone ate up!
If you watched the game you know how it went...Pittsburgh went up 6 -0, then the Broncos scored and then they took the lead.Pittsburgh (with a limping team I must say)came back to tie it up...and then that one great pass and touchdown run in overtime.
The place went wild...cow bells, Al on the horn...and everyone getting caught up in the celebration.
we had a blast...and since they won we are going to do it all again next week.....

Steelers: Here We Go - 2008-09 version

Actually...this was what I was trying to put on the last post....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
(sound of my sigh) one of these days I will figure this all out...and have a computer that doesn't have a mind of it's own.....and I will be a super blogger! hahahah a scary thought!
This is the sound of the song fans were singing in 2008...at the local "Steeler" Bar..(although this was not taped at the local spot).....where all the fans gather to watch the games that aren't on regular TV. Most Pittsburgh fans are SERIOUS fans...they cry when they win as well as when they lose....fortunately they seem to win often. The Alabama fans come pretty close....the whole stadium gets loud and everyone is into it. Florida fans are serious too...but it's a different level of seriousness.... after all.....it's Florida! And Dolphin fans...well they've just about given up hope of winning...hahaha So Pittsburgh is going to the Super Bowl and we'll see what happens there!

Pittsburgh's going to the Suuuuuuuuuuper Bowl

First this...as soon as I figure out how to get a link there will actually BE something here...haha
It was a good day for football fans...especially Packer fans (like Reid) and Steeler fans (like ME!) We were invited to a party at a house on the river. I wasn't really sure about going...but they asked us several times...and there was going to be fresh fish...and I wanted to see the house now that it's finished...because John & co did all the tile work. It is quite a house!
And seeing it on a beautiful day like today...well..it was impressive.Above...the side yard and pool & hot tub & looking out towards the river.Below the front hallway...beautiful wood floors throughout. The lighter wood is old Merritt Island pine...there wasn't enough for the whole floor...so they incorporated what they had into the entryway/hall.
Elevator...had to try it out...just because.
one bathroom
outside deck...background is the river and Ballard Park
view from side deck
back yard...beautiful oak trees
tile work John did down where boats pull in. It is on the spot where there was an old boat house...in this case they knocked down the original and rebuilt a new house...in the same design/style as the original houses were built. Putting in the last row of tile near the water was pretty tricky...on a platform...getting wet while working
downstairs kitchen in the "rec" room. Still a work in progress...but they have the beautiful tile and cabinets and woodwork, a nice pool table and it's coming along.

bathroom

view of the river
sea glass back splash in the main kitchen
pool again
deck by the living room All through the house was the blue & green colors. Beautiful tile work and lots of nice art work by local artists. It was really nice...and comfortable too. I ended up having a good time...even though we were among the older folks in the crowd. We stayed for the first half of the first game. Came home...watched the Packers win and then headed out to watch the Steelers game...and the rest is history. The Jets looked pretty good...and I would not have been too upset if they pulled off the win...but Pittsburgh is hard to beat!
Oh...and just for the record...my car kind of smells like a big piece of fried fish (after the party in the garage)...haha I'm surprised I don't have a bunch of cats lurking around!...I am hoping the Febreeze I sprayed in there tonight helps "freshen" things up! haha

UF-SC Game

Last weekend we went with some friends up to the Fl-South Carolina game. We all know how that turned out...but we did have a good time. We went in this RV,

John and Mike spent a lot of time trying to get the D$%* TV working so we could watch the early games. It kept telling us to wait...it was finding the signal...but it never found it. After a couple of trips onto the roof, checking all the wires, etc, we finally got some help on the phone and we got reception!
Heading in
Mike's son and daughter-in-law were part of our group. The two little boys were adorable. Both were decked out in full Gator gear. The baby was about 8 1/2 months old...a fun age...and he was really cute. Even John, who usually isn't a huge fan of babies...thought he was pretty cute.


Sights around the tail gate area. It was an absolutely beautiful fall day!
On the back row all the RV's were under the big oak trees full of Spanish moss. It is a pretty nice spot back there. It was funny to see how decked out all the campers were...people have anything/everything Gator. Pretty amusing...I guess if you have the money...
I needed to take a picture of one of the trees...that I always loved when I was in Gainesville. Reminded of the trees growing up in Pittsburgh, PA.
We walked over to the stadium around dusk. Lots of fans..lots of fun going on...but those 7pm games give people a lot of too much time to imbibe...if you know what I mean. Some people looked as though they might not make it to their seats!

When you have a blog a camera...you have to stop and pose on your way in to the stadium.
Did you happen to notice I got a better picture of John...than he did of me??? hahah
We stopped to check out the view from where Mike and family would be sitting.
Notice the man in the YELLOW shirt...that's where their seats were.
We...on the other hand, were up a little ways
Getting closer
view from our seats...which really weren't too bad...I saw plenty.
we were up at the top next to the big screen in the end zone and the signs...
The "Old Ball Coach" also our competition that day

Here I am up at the top...that orange wall is the very Back row! haha
Guy across the aisle from me...snoozing before the game




If you watched the game you know the first 14 seconds were great!,,,and after that...well it's been better. I was happy for Steve Spurrier...good for him winning the SEC East for South Carolina. We were right next to a bunch of SC fans...so we had fun watching them win! Mike's grandson (2 1/2) got to go to his first game. He loved it! (too young to know the score...haha) He was cheering away...his dad got a great picture of him cheering..and he got kissed by Alberta! So...we all still had fun.