The World According to Fldodreams

Wow! Where do I begin? We had a blast and the weather was awesome. We stayed on Whitehead Street, right next to the Hemingway House. "His" unique cats with the extra claw were all over the place. I am not a cat person, but they were friendly and interesting.

Lets see, what did we do all week?

Fri - 4/14/06: Well, we planed out (my new term) with Kelly & Gibby and we met Patty & Eileen there. After hanging out at Atlantic Shores pool, we ended up in town and hung at Schooner's for a while. We did shots with our waitress whose originally from Michigan. Then we hung around the Conch. I met Jim Robertson, who was wearing a Dolphins shirt, so we debated the Pats-Fins rivalry, then had a few beers and cigars.

Sat - 4/15/06: Picked up our bicycles & hit up the "Reach" hotel beach and pool.
Had margo's (aka margarita's) at Kelly's before heading back to shower.
Then hit a few bars, Lazy Gecko, Hog's Breath and finally settled at the Conch, before heading out on the Fury Sunset Cruise. After that, we shot some pool at Captain Tony's. And what would a night be without food...so we had a LATE dinner at Big John's Pizza on the way home.

Sun 4/16/06: Kathy & I biked in to town in the morning. Later, hung out at the Reach again, then headed to Duval St for the evening. Hit Aweful Arthurs, Irish Kevin's as well as a few other fine establishments that i don't recall. We did have some Thai food, which was a first for me.

Mon 4/17/06: Patriot's Day! biked into town with Kathy and walked around a bit. Then we hit Atlantic Shores with the crew. I biked it over to the Red Sox Nation haven, the Lazy Gecko, to watch the Sox game. The crew met me there in the 7th inning and we celebrated as Mark Loretta hit a walkoff homerun to cap a comeback win. Funny thing was, that I "called it" and the guy next to me couldn't believe it. "Big Papi's on deck...are you crazy, Loretta hasn't hit a home..." "Smack!" Next thing I know, the guy's buying me beers!
Later we went to Aweful Arthur's, Conch Republic - met Bridget and Amanda - hit various pubs, then Angelina's for pizza.

Tue 4/18/06: Rode bikes into town with Kathy, hit Duval shops. Met up with Kel & Gib then ate at Schooners, Mahi sandwich to die for! Hit Hog's Breath and sat at oyster bar where we met bartender, Randy Rome, originally from Nantucket. "SHOUT OUT TO RANDY ROME!"
(bartender extraordinaire!) Hit mallory Square for sunset and then did the usual Pub Crawl on Duval Street.

Wed 4/19/06: We biked into town in the a.am, met Kel & Gib at the Reach and hung out on the beach. Hit the Green Parrot and Hog's Breath, then showered and cooked out on grill.
Into town and hit the Conch and met up with Jim Robertson again.

Thu 4/20/06: Kathy & I biked into town in morning and had breakfast at Schooner's. Met up with the crew and we stayed and had lunch (and a few beers) at Schooner's. Returned the bikes (Moped Hospital) then cleaned up and flew home.

What a week...

Just back from 10 days in Sunny, Hot (and Humid) Florida. Had a great time!
We stayed at Sheraton Safari for 2 nights, which I highly recommend for families who are staying outside of Disney property.
We've stayed there numerous times. Its clean and the pool is great (snake slide) for kids 14 and under in particular.

Sat - 8/19/05 - We hung out at the pool most of the day, then went to dinner and relaxed.
Sun - 8/20/05 - We went to Daytona Beach! It was hot and we were loving it! I love the beach and Daytona is still one of my favorites!
Mon - 8/21/05 - Moved to Boardwalk Inn (Disney). Went to MGM just to ride Rock 'n Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror, then hung out
at the pool in the afternoon. To EPCOT for dinner (England - Fish n chips). Its EXTRA MAGIC HOURS (EMH) in EPCOT
tonight for Disney Resort guests! Kathy and I walked around the countries, while the kids went on Mission Space and
Test Track numerous times. Nothing like a Margarita and the boat ride in Mexico to make Kathy and I feel like we're in
Heaven! This is a big family tradition...Margarita and Mexican Boat Ride!
Tues - 8/22/05 - Hung out at Boardwalk Inn Pool, then went to Animal Kingdom in afternoon, then ate at Rain Forest Cafe. Chris was a
superb bartender/host and we wish him well as he heads off to Columbia to meet his girlfriend's family. It was
EMH at Animal Kingdom, so we went back and had more fun!!!!
Wed - 8/23/05 - A tropical storm was brewing off the Florida Coast (KATRINA), but forecasters were saying that it had only a slight chance
to develop before hitting the Palm Beach/Lauderdale area. We went to MGM in the morning, then went to Magic
Kingdom at night. (EMH) As we came home, we flipped on The Weather Channel and learned that KATRINA was
going to be a stronger tropical storm, but "nothing to worry about".
Thur - 8/24/05 Last day in Disney before heading for the Keys! We went to EPCOT in morning, then the kids stayed there and Kathy
and I packed up, then hung at the pool. We went to EPCOT later in afternoon (EMH). Weather Channel says
KATRINA is now a Category 1 Hurricane. Kathy was skeptical about heading down to Keys in early a.m., but Weather
wizards say KATRINA will hit around Miami and travel NW across state.
Fri - 8/25/05 Headed down to Keys, but KATRINA hit as Cat 2 and went SW, rather than NW. Key West hit by KATRINA as winds
were steady at around 60+ mph and torrential rains. Somehow made it to Key West and rode out KATRINA.
The predictions were ominous for Florida panhandle/Gulf area as KATRINA was expected to explode into a Cat 3 or 4
Hurricane.
Sat - 8/26/05 HURRICANE KATRINA pulled west of Key West enough to allow some sunny breaks during the day. Walked around
Duval Street as cleanup was underway and water started receding. The kids wanted to saty in and watch a movie at
night. Kathy and I met up with 3 guys we had met (Rolf & Dwight from Cocoa Beach and Rick from Orlando.) We had
a blast as we hopped from bar to bar! Met up with Dawn from NJ in Cap't Tony's and Rolf danced her around Tony's
and she became part of our roving band. Finally called it a night and headed back to Wyndam Casa Marina.
Sun - 8/27/05 KATRINA is a "monster" according to The Weather Channel. Mandatory evacuation of New Orleans was ordered
as we watched in astonishment at the TV. Decided to take a break and get our minds off of the storm and rented
scooters and we zipped all over Key West in the 93 degree sunshine. It was a great break and we had a blast! We
walked around Duval Street at night with the kids and stopped to wath the weather reports here and there. KATRINA
became a Cat 5 Hurricane and was nearing the Louisina coast. Thoughts and prayers...
Mon - 8/28/05 We watched the Weather Channel as KATRINA slammed into the New orleans area. First indications were
that she had slid just east of N.O. and that was good. Early reports were that the storm, though powerful,
was not as bad as they thought it might be. (Of course, most reporters were seemingly 50 miles from the coast)
We hung out at the pool, then left Key West around 1:30pm sowe could catch our flight in West Palm. Stopped
in Fort Lauderdale to eat at Hamburger Mary's (off Federal St).
PROLOGUE - In the ensuing days, the brightness that we felt from our vacation diminished as the devestation of Hurricane KATRINA
came into focus. Trajedy and human peril. The best and worst of humankind was coming out of the ruins left behind
from KATRINA. Looting, pilaging, anarchy, death, sickness, starvation. And the bastard Oil companies...well,
jacked up pricing, for example, 8/30 pm, gas price locally at around $2.59, very high...but gas prices 24 hours later, $3.30.
Days later, approaching $4.00 with no end in sight. Don't get me started in the politics of it all...
May God be with all of those who have been affected by KATRINA and may America wake up with a new vision,
a vision and real view of where we are and where we need to go and may we have the strength to get there as a
nation. And hopefully we can back the strength and stature and respect of the World, which we seem to have lost
in the last few years...

The email below, was sent to Mr. Tom Werner of the Boston Red Sox...(see 10/28/04 posting below)
later referenced in 3/13/05 NY Post article:
http://www.nypost.com/sports/41009.htm


I was often asked over the years, "how would your life change if the Red Sox ever did win the World Series? Well, I hope this little anecdote will help frame the answer to the question. And I want to share it with you...

What a difference a year makes! After game 7, a year ago, it took me over 2 hours to console my, then ,11 year old son after Aaron Boone's homerun. At that moment, we connected. He was me, back in 1975 when I was 12 and the Sox lost 4-3 in game 7 to the Reds.
Then, last week, I changed up my "silly" game watching ritual in the 9th inning, to hold my, now, 12 year old son Trevor's hand. As the last out was made, we lept up out of our seats, still holding hands, then he jumped into my arms, wrapped his arms and legs around me and squeezed me as hard as he could. Thats when I noticed the sobs, the warm tears dripping onto my shoulders and arms. I stood there, holding him for over 5 minutes as we soaked in the reality of situation. I finally eased him down and just hugged him for another few minutes, before his mother summoned him off to bed.

As I drove him to school this morning, I asked him if he was alright last night. I asked if he cried because he was so happy. And he said "yes, partly..." But then he told me he cried out of joy for me. He cried for the stories of how close my Grandfather and I were because of our love for the Sox and the stories of my Dad dusting me off after being pushed around by kids in in our neighborhood because I was a Sox fan, living in Long Island at the time. He cried because of how much passion he knew I had and for the pains I endured, whether sitting in right field at the 1978 Bucky Dent game, watching in horror in 1986 or watching together the collapse in last year's game 7 against NY. He concluded that he also cried because he was happy that we went to game 5 against NY together, the most intense game (of over 1,000 that I ever witnessed in person!) and finally that "I got to watch the Red Sox win the World Series...with you!" WOW! Heaven isn't an Iowa cornfield...THIS IS HEAVEN...my son in my arms, forever etched in my memory...HEAVEN! An already incredible moment to me already (as a devout Sox fan!), this moment with my son was ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE! Thank you!
And THANK YOU all for your hard work and for helping to bridge the gap; the gap between us and our grandparents and parents, long since passed away...and most of all for the connection with our kids!

8:30 am - We load up the SUV and take off for Jacksonville.

11:30 a.m. - We arrive just outside Alltel Stadium and find some decent parking ($50) in Parking lot S.
We unpack and head to the stadium, 3 blocks away. We chat with some Pats fans in the parking lot. The Eagle fans look at us with a dry smirk. Moments later, we hear our first of 100's of T.O. chants, followed by "Fly Eagles Fly". UGH!

12:00 p.m. - As we arrive behind the North endzone, we find a bar called "Tailgate Bar and Grille". Its cool. it has a patio deck which, unfortunately, is filled with Eagles fans, It also has a string of tented areas making up an outdorr bar and we later learn that they have an indoor bar around back as well. We hang out for a couple of hours as Lou buys rounds. I'm the designated driver all weekend, so I drink a beer or two, then switch to Diet Pepsi. Here, we hear, first hand, how obnoxious the Eagles fans are as they taunt and laugh at the Pats fans, completely unprovoked. "Thanks for wasting your money (to come down here), the Pats don't have a chance" is the basic consensus of the hoardes of Philly fans. We talk to a number of Pats fans and they feel that the tickets will be scarce and overpriced. We get a couple of inquiries, but the asking price they seek is around $2,500!

2:00 p.m. - Rich Weinreich and I take a walk around the Stadium hunting for tickets. The lowest price we find is $2800 out around Alltel Stadium. (Gulp) We people watch and get razzed by Eagle fans as they laugh at us because we're Pats fans and taunt us with their chants. I have to admit, i kind of like their chants...but I won't let them know it. When they sing the T.O. song, we replace "T.O." with "K.O." or "B.O." We don't see any fights, nor does anyone try to bait us into one. Its razzing by opposing fans, not much more. Although the "attitude" of the Philly fans is that of arogance as they "know" that the Eagles will win and that the Pats don't have a chance! We head to the car to unload some items and we get a call from Lou. He tells us that the Tailgate Bar and Grille has a lounge around back with big TV's but we have to get back because they are only letting in about 120 people. We head back and pay $10 each for a wristband and are told we can come and go. Lou has a couple of tables on table away from a big TV. I do a rough count...85 people in the bar, 7 of which are Patriot fans. Thats about the ratio on the streets so far as well. Lou, Rich and Jack have decided to "camp" here and not try to get tickets. The prices seem to be going up by the minute. Average asking price is around $3,000 to $3,500! I tell the boys that I am still going to make the effort to ge ttickets. Some fans around us laugh and say "You'll never get them for under $1,000! But good luck, dude" I tell them I have to try anyway! I'd even "SELL HOTDOGS" just to get in! Everyone thinks I'm nuts. Persistent, but nuts.

4:15 p.m. I take a walk to get some air. I text message my wife "no luck" with tickets. I think she is happy about that. I stand out on the street in front of the patio bar and lean against a jersey barrier. I dub the patio bar at the Tailgate Bar and Grille, "The Eagles Nest" in my head because it is overflowing with drunken, rowdy Eagles fans. The streets are full of Eagle fans as well. Since we went inside, the swarm has grown and the ratio has doubled, no, tripled in this area. At least 30-1. Some fool in a Hummer, advertising something or other, comes by with bags of mini nerf-type footballs. Suddenly, it is dangerous to be a Patriots fan out here. The Eagles fans toss up footballs to their drunken brethren on the patio balcony . As Patriot fans waltz down the middle of the street, the sickos fire the footballs at the unsuspecting fans, then laugh and whoop it up. It seems like they
really suck at this, but are laughing it up and cursing the Pats fans as the footballs soar over their heads. I am bored, so I decide to keep a "scorecard" on the would-be Eagle Monday Quarterbacks. The first 8 footballs thrown all hit Eagle fans rather than Pats fans. I am laughing now. I guess they noticed. One ball comes whizzing at me, but skids on the road to my left. I see that 2 eggheads are giggling and pointing at me. I had been standing here for 30 minutes undetected, but now, they
have me in their sights. Ok, I am going to toy with them. I pretend to not pay attention, as if looking down the street for someone. It doesn't take long. Arm cocked, the fat Eagles fan in the Heavy Metal T-Shirt gets ready to fire away as I spy him out of the cornerof my eye. He fires and I turn and coolly snatch the football with one hand, behind my back I look at the ball, look at the culprit, then proceed to spike the ball with a vengence. I get a good chuckle out of a couple of 20 something year old Eagle fans next to me. They think that was cool! They laugh at the "goober" as they called him, that threw the ball at me. I retrieve the ball and give it to a young Pats fan. They don't throw it at me anymore. To myself, I name this place, The "GAUNTLET". After another 30 mintes I get really bored. The score? Well, my rough count was, "Balls thrown = 135", "Pats fans hit = 7" I hope Donovan McNabb has a better day or the Eagles will be in trouble early! I leave the gauntlet and walk around a little more. I ask around about tickets in a couple of lots. I only ask Pats fans. I'm not that nuts. The prices are about $3,000 and up still. I leave my number with a couple of groups in case they hear of anyone who decides not to go at the last second. Still, no one thinks I have a shot, but as I say, sometimes its just "BEING AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME!"

5:30 p.m. Back in the Tailgate Bar & Grille, I find Lou has "befriended" some Eagles fans and he's buying rounds left and right. They seem to be less hostile when you buy them drinks. Some of them anyway. We endured a few more "T.O." and "Fly Eagles Fly" chants when one big, obnoxious Philly fan, practicalls stands on the bar and yells, "What kind of team are you, you guys don't even have a chant!" Well, enough's enough and I stood up and roared back, "WE DON'T NEED A STINKIN' CHANT, WE JUST WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!" To which I was was met with a thunderous applause from the other 7 or 8 Pats fans, only to be drowned out by a chorus of Boos from the Eagles fans. It was good natured ribbing! I felt like one of those WWF (WWE) Wrestlers who get roundly booed, but must be thinking deep down, if these birds only knew the truth.

6:05 p.m. Time to head back out in search of tickets. I bid adiue to Lou and company and tell them to meet me in the bar after the game if I am not back by halftime. The game plan was to try to get tickets right at game time and if I had no luck, wait until the end of the 1st quarter in hopes that prices would drop below $1,000. I slowly walked around with a "NEED 1 TICKET" sign inside of the "ticket holder" that I had bought. I was also smart enough to print a bright sign from home which helped catch people'seye. Unfortunately, all I got was laughs when I was asked how much I would pay. Anything under $1,000 was a joke to them. "Hey buddy, tickets are 4 grand and up. Wake up!" one guy yelled at me. Still, I was determined to keep trying. Maybe I'd bump into someone I knew who had to get rid of one or maybe I'd bump into a sympathetic Pats fan who was willing to discount a ticket because I was a Pats fan. Or maybe someone who didn't "need" the money but who had a friend who bailed out in the last second. Who knows. First I saw an old time Bomber fly by flanked by 2 WWII era fighter planes. The engines had a distinctive hum and reminded me of the movie, "Midway" I was about one quarter of the way around the stadium. I would have to stop halfway, at the South Endzone because of the configuration of the stadium to the streets. Moments later, the flyover jets roared overhead. The game was about to begin. I trudged along, holding up one finger, hoping amongst all hope that I'd get lucky. The scalpers were nearly all gone. There were thousands of people with signs or fingers in the air but not many people selling. A guy walked by and told me his buddy couldn't make it and he was heading in...how much would I pay for his ticket? I told him $700, he hesitated...I thought I had him. Just then, an Eagles fan swooped in and said that he'd pay $1,500 and the guy took him up on it. %^&+%#!!!

6:30 p.m. As the huge bomber flew overhead, accompanied by 2 WWII age fighter planes. It gave me goose bumps. The sound reminded me of the movie "Midway" or even the latest movie, "Pearl Harbor". I hear the crowd roar, jumbled singing, then the 4 jets flew over and roared through the crisp Jacksonville air. Damn! Its gametime and no ticket! I step up my efforts. I hold up my one finger high and plead, "Need one, I need one!" To no avail. I finally reach the South entrance to the Stadium, which is the opposite endzone from where my buddies are hanging out at the Tailgate Bar & Grille. I walk back and forth amongst the hundreds of fans, maybe 1000's, scrambling for tickets. I really need to get lucky, because the guy next to me tells a scalper he'll pay $2,200 for one ticket. I've got $700. I try to find a spot where I can see the Jumbotron in the North endzone so I can watch some of the game while I hold up my finger and continue to plead for tickets. Just behind me, the street is separated down the middle by jersey barriers to keep the pedestrians on one side and allow the traffic to flow on the other side. I carefully climb up on top of one and now I can see a little more than 1/2 of the Jumbotron. The upper half. I just missed the kickoff, I gathered. The Patriots were going to get the ball as the Eagles had to punt. Just then, I feel a tug on the back of my fleece Patriots jacket. I immediately figure that its a policeman, who is going to ask me get down off the jersey barrier, for safety sake. It is not. Its a young man, about 25 year's old, with short black curly hair. He is wearing a teal polo shirt, with the Super Bowl Logo embroidered onto the left breast and he has a lanyard around his neck. 'Security?' I think to myself. "Hey, how much are you paying for tickets?" he asks me. "I have a little more than $700 on me," I say, not too hopeful. "I can get you in for that. I work here, but I have to leave to tend bar at the Landing. Deal?" My eyes must have popped
and I know my heart raced a million miles an hour. 'Right place, right time' I grinned to myself in disbelief. "Lets go over here," I said, pointing across the street to a parking lot. We walked across and ducked behind a row of bushes. "Ok," he started, all you have to do is go right to the media gate over there (pointing) and walk right in. People are walking in and out like nothing, but they'll just verify your pass, then patyou down and you're home free. I worked the Hospitality tent just inside
the South Endzone area, so you can go there and eat, if you want or just go watch the game. Just hide your shirt and ID once you go watch the game." He takes off his shirt and Lanyard with his Media Gate pass on it and I hide my Patriots hat, take off my beads and take off my Patriots fleece and Patriots sweatshirt. Don't want to look too much like a fan to avoid suspicion. I wrap my sweatshirt, logo in, around my waste. I stuff the beads in the pocket of my fleece. I also have 2 mini
nerf footballs that I give up willingly to this bartender. I throw on his Medium shirt...yea, I suck in my gut and squeeze it on. I drape my fleece around my back as if I am holding it there for use later that night. The Lanyard completes the deal and I hand over the money. He agrees to walk over to make sure I get in. I tell him that if its unsuccessful, I'll still give him $100 for the effort. He laughs and tells me I'll have no problem getting in, besides, he says I look like an everyday guy rather than a
desparate fan, so they will barely look twice at me. I'm a bundle of nerves as we walk towards the gate, but I take a breath knowing that I have to look calm and collected as if I "Belong" here. We're at the Media Gate...

6:45 p.m. I decided to have my keys in my hand, as if I just went to my car (to get my jacket, presumably). I figure that if anyone wondered where I came from, why I left the stadium, the keys would be a subconscious clue. The lady at the gate, was sitting down on a stool, slumped lazily against a fence and seemed like she couldn't have been bothered to even check my credentials. She took a look, scanned it and smiled and said, "my its gettin' chilly, ain't it?" I smiled and tugged at my fleece around my back and neck as if to say, 'yea, thats why I got this, m'am.' The bartender, who I never got his name, unfortunately, was standing about 10 feet away and as he turned away, he gave me a nod and a thumbs up. 'Thanks buddy' I thought as I acknowledged him with a little nod. But there was more. I walked 20 feet and there stood 4 National Guardsman holding M-16's and 2 policemen. First the policemen scanned me by hand and moved me a long to the M-16 crew. One of them frisked me and asked if I had a phone. I took it off and told them I had a camera too, before they searched and found it anyway. They smiled and sent me over to a lady who operated a scanning booth, like the one's in the airport. 'C'mon' I thought, lets get this over with. My heart raced. I was concocting a story in case they asked me why someone who worked concessions would need a camera. 'I hoped to break free and tqake some pictures later,' i would tell them if asked. The lady at the X-Ray machine told me to just go through. Suddenly a shout, "HEY, HALT!" 'Damn' I got caught. One of the Guardsman rushed over and told the lady to do her job as she was trained. "But he was already in earlier," she said. "I checked him already!" ('You did?', I laughed to myself, 'Thanks, lady, you just secured my entry!') "Yea, but ya still need to scan his items again, like you were trained!" he scolded her. "Sorry," I said as I put the items on the conveyor belt. They bickered as I picked up my items and headed off to look for a primo spot to watch the game. I WAS IN!

THE GAME:
Wow! I was at the SUPER BOWL! I immediately went up to the 2nd tier and found a sweet standing room spot in the corner of the Patriots (South) Endzone. There were 7 or 8 Eagles fans camped there, but I squeezed in and got a primo spot. The Eagles had just gotten the ball for their 2nd drive when I settled in. I called Lou and friends and told him I got in. They didn't believe me. When I told them HOW I got in, on a Concession ID, he flipped out. "Get the $%# out? You got in on a concession ID? You're sh$%^#& me? You're not selling hotdogs, are you" he asked in jest. "You are my hero!" he mused. Lou, who everyone down here seems to know like Norm from the show "Cheers", was flabbergasted that I got in.

7-0 EAGLES:
The first quarter was scoreless, but early in the 2nd quarter, the Eagles scored to take a 7-0 lead.
McNabb hit Smith on a 6 yard pass to send the Eagles fans into a loud chorus of "T-O, T-O, T-O, T-O..." and "Fly Eagles Fly!" Ugh, the pain of it all!

7-7, PATRIOTS TIE IT UP!
The Patriots started the next drive at their 13, but their offense came to life and they marched down the field to the Eagles 4 yard line. But on 2nd down, Tom Brady fell on a fumble but he was stripped of it in the pile and the Eagles took over. After a quick 3 and out, the Patriots drove down the field again, but this time Brady sat in the pocket, surveying the field, before finding Givens in the right corner of the endzone to tie the score.

HALFTIME:
I scurried down to section 228 to visit a friend, Larry Z, who had nice seats near the North Endzone corner (where Givens caught the TD pass.) We chat and listen to Paul McCartney as he belts out some of his all-time greats hits. Wow, I am now watching a former Beatle sing! How cool!
I head back and stop at an Outback Steakhouse booth. The server tells me that all of the Outbacks are out of food. Great planning. I'm starving, but I rush back to my "spot" to secure my front row standing location for the 2nd half!

14-7 PATRIOTS!
The Patriots got the ball first in the second half and promptly marched 69 yards in 9 plays to take a 14-7 lead. Tom Brady hit Mike Vrabel on a short pass for Vrabels 5th catch of his career, all touchdowns and 2 of them, in Super Bowls. How efficient! The Eagles fans are grunbling and the Pats fans are getting louder and louder. Though there are less of us, we make nearly as much noise as the Eagles fans.

14-14, boo!
After each team had short drives end in punts, the Eagles took the subsequent drive down the field as McNabb picked on Randall Gay for 3 or 4 completions, capped off by a 10 yard TD strike to Westbrook to tie the score. The Eagle fans go through their chants, but I notice that they are not quite as lod as before.

My flight was at 7pm, so I ran around most of the day and got some last minute items for my trip to Jacksonville. Ok, if you didn't know that there was a Super Bowl there this weekend, you might scratch your head and wonder, "who the hell goes to Jacksonveille?"
My biggest quest was to find a mini black light, because I heard that you can use one to verify if a Super Bowl ticket is real because the back of the ticket has invisible ink that is only visible inder a black light. I finally found one for 10 bucks at IParty.

Lou R came over around 3:30 and we headed off for TF Greene airport around 4:15.

We landed in Orlando, got the rental car, then we picked up Lou's friends, Rich and Jack at Terminal B in Orlando's International Airport.
We headed straight for Disney's Boardwalk and ate at the ESPN Zone! Around 1:00 a.m. we packed it up and headed off for the Holiday Inn in Altamonte Springs.

Gotta get up early tohead into Jacksonville in the morning!

Our New England Patriots took on the #1 defense in the league, which happened to be the Pittsburgh Steelers and they rolled to a 41-27 victory to earn a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Patriots, led by Tom Brady, moved the ball consistently against the vaunted Steelers defense and the Pats defense smothered Jerome Bettis and the Pittsburgh offense! AWESOME! First they beat the #1 offense in the NFL (Colts), 20-3, then they defeat the #1 defense (Steelers) 41-27. Up next, the Philadelphia Eagles on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville! I'll be there! No tickets yet, but I'll be there.

GO PATS!

WOW! What happens when the 4th best offense of all-time, which boasts the #1 QB in TD passes in a season, meets the cool as can be, New England Patriots? Well, destruction...for the 4th best offensive team of all time, that is! The Patriots dismantled the Colts as they confused, pressured and dominated the ALL-WORLD QB, Peyton Manning.

The Patriots cruised to a 20-3 victory as Manning and his offensive juggernaut was kept out of the endzone for the first time all season!

ON TO PITTSBURGH FOR THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP!

About a week after the devastating Tsunami off the coast of Indonesia, the death toll is said to have reached around 150,000 souls.
It is so hard to fathom that much loss of life in one disaster. Our hearts, hope and spirits go with those affected.
God Bless!

Hi,
Just returned from 4 days in Key West with my wife. We had a blast! Relax by the pool, bar hop at night!
Jimmy Buffett has it right!!!!!

We stayed at the Wyndham Casa Marina...and tried to get our old room (182) but it was occupied, so we got stuck up on the 3rd floor (383).

On Thursday, we landed in Ft. Lauderdale and then drove down to the Keys. We got a flat tire when we stopped at Pizza Hut in Key Largo. (Watch out for roofing nails!!!) We had to put the little spare "donut" tire on for the 97 mile trek to Key West!

On Friday, we chilled by the pool most of the day, then went into town to Mallory Square Docks to see the sunset! Next, off to bar hop on Duval Street. First, though, dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, then off to Teaser's, Sloppy Joe's, The Bull & Jack Flat's, to name a few libation stops. We stopped in front of Sloppy Joe's where the "Liveduvalstreet.com" webcam is and we called the kids and said "hello" via webcam. They got a huge kick out of it!

Saturday, we ate breakfast at Atlantic Shore's, then hung by the pool and beach all day. After watching the beautiful sunset on Mallory Square, we walked along the waterfront and saw a man fishing off his docked boat right behind the Conch Republic. He fought a large catch for 20 minutes before his line snapped. But as he was fighting it, I, for some reason, looked over to the right side of the docks and saw a large set of fins (dorsal and tail) of a shark as it briefly surfaced between 2 docked boats. Very exciting! I love sharks! Then we then headed off to Margaritaville for dinner, before bar hopping to Aqua, Lazy Gecko and Irish Kevin's! We had a little tift and decided to call it an early night.

Sunday, we got up and went to the Key West Breakfast Club for all you can eat French Toast or Pancakes for $1.99! The French Toast was awesome! The coffee ($2.00 for your own pot) cost more than the meal! A cheap yet delicious breakfast. We hung by the pool, watched a little football at the pool bar, then we watched the Power Boat Parade on Duval Street on our way to watching the sun set again. We ate dinner at The Upper Crust (pizza, yum!) before visiting a couple of jewlery stores, where I bought Kathy a 14ct gold and Australian Opal ring ($900). Watched more football, then we went to a Drag show at 801 Bourbon, then off to a few more bars, before settling at Jack Flat's to watch the first half of the Patriots game.

On Monday, we ate breakfast again at the delightfully filling and inexpensive Key West Breakfast Club. We did a little shopping for the kids, packed and then hung out at the pool for our last soaking of tropical sun for at least a few months! We left Key West and more great memories behind us as we made the trek to Ft. Lauderdale. As we made our way down the Keys, I spotted a Bald Eagle overhead. Unbelievable!
We made good time, so we worked our way over to Hamburger Mary's! What a great burger place! The burgers are incredible! I topped off my depression (brought on by the reality of returning to chillier weather!) with a Choclate Eruption! What is that? Well, its a chocolate disk type cake, filled with a heated and I mean heated, chocolate cream that oozes out of the center (like an eruption), topped off by a side of vanilla ice cream! Awesome! Gained 10 pounds before the spoon hit my mouth!

The flight home was long, yet we were happy to finally get there and to kiss the kids as they slept. A great mini-vacation filled with memories and cheer! Now, back to reality and 5 inches of snow on the ground...

I was walking around Fenway Park, today at lunchtime, and I noticed Gate C was wide open and I could see the field through the centerfield "garage." They were ripping up the old turf in order to put in a better drainage system, according to the security guard on duty. Somehow, I finnagled to get a chunk of the centerfield sod. I got a great idea as to how to preserve it, from my boss and I went out and bought some acrylic
casting solution in order to embed some small chunks of turf in a clear paperweight type of molding. If it works, I'll get a little plaque attaced to one molding, that says "Fenway Park 11-1-04" and I'll save it for my son's trophy shelf.

As I look at the sod, I am left to wonder what playoff moments are worn into its sod? Perhaps Johhny Damon tracked down a ball and had to peddle across this patch of grass...or perhaps David Ortiz 14th inning game winning single in game 5 against the Yankees bounded upon these blades? No matter what, I feel like I have a unique chunk of history, that will take its place in my mind and on my shelf along with the lonely Boston Garden brick I snuck from the construction site a few years ago. Worthless to most, but to me, they hold a lifetime of memories at my fingertips!

Trev and I went to the Red Sox victory Parade yesterday and got a front row seat to all the action! It was an awesome, exciting parade. It cruised by us in 7 minutes, but the excitement left me with goose bumps and filled me with emotion!

Then, we raced home, warmed up and went to visit my Gradfather's grave. I had not been their since he passed away in early November, 1975.
He had made a promise to me, when he got sick with Leukemia in the Spring of 1975, that he would "not go anywhere" until we saw the Sox win the World Series together. He went into remission and we listened to or watched every game that Summer, culminating with a disappointing game 7 World Series defeat to the Reds. One week later, he got ill again and he passed away days later, on 11/2/1975, before our dream was ever realized. I promised myself I would pray for him every night, but would not visit him at his grave until the Sox finally won! On 10/31/04, nearly 29 years after his passing, I came to visit him and Trevor and I celebrated with him, left him World Series trinkets, prayed, cried and
got the closure with him that we had waited 29 years for!

And as for the parade...an estimated crowd of over 3 million witnessed the parade, a mighty spectacle it was!
And the Sox have engrained themselves into a new generation and have entrenched themselves even deeper into
the old guard of Red Sox Nationites.

Wow,
Unbelievable! The Red Sox finsished off their magical ride and ESRUC EHT DESREVER (aka REVERSED THE CURSE)
and won the 2004 WORLD SERIES last night! I still can nOT believe it. I keep pinching myself. And who would have guessed that they'd sweep the Cardinals, who had the best record in baseball this year? Derek Lowe was phenominal and keith Foulke closed the game to put the exclamation point on the season. It seemed like Foulke pitched in every game of the playoffs and pitched, like, 100 innings. He was immense! The Sox were immense! Now I can die in peace! I wrote an email and sent it to a couple of the Sox Exec's. It goes something like this:
"What a difference a year makes! After game 7, a year ago, it took me over 2 hours to console my, then ,11 year old son after Aaron Boone's homerun. At that moment, we connected. He was me, back in 1975 when I was 12 and the Sox lost 4-3 in game 7 to the Reds.
Then, last week, I changed up my "silly" game watching ritual in the 9th inning, to hold my, now, 12 year old son Trevor's hand. As the last out was made, we lept up out of our seats, still holding hands, then he jumped into my arms, wrapped his arms and legs around me and squeezed me as hard as he could. Thats when I noticed the sobs, the warm tears dripping onto my shoulders and arms. I stood there, holding him for over 5 minutes as we soaked in the reality of situation. I finally eased him down and just hugged him for another few minutes, before his mother summoned him off to bed.

As I drove him to school this morning, I asked him if he was alright last night. I asked if he cried because he was so happy. And he said "yes, partly..." But then he told me he cried out of joy for me. He cried for the stories of how close my Grandfather and I were because of our love for the Sox and the stories of my Dad dusting me off after being pushed around by kids in in our neighborhood because I was a Sox fan, living in Long Island at the time. He cried because of how much passion he knew I had and for the pains I endured, whether sitting in right field at the 1978 Bucky Dent game, watching in horror in 1986 or watching together the collapse in last year's game 7 against NY. He concluded that he also cried because he was happy that we went to game 5 against NY together, the most intense game (of over 1,000 that I ever witnessed in person!) and finally that "I got to watch the Red Sox win the World Series...with you!" WOW! Heaven isn't an Iowa cornfield...THIS IS HEAVEN...my son in my arms, forever etched in my memory...HEAVEN! An already incredible moment to me already (as a devout Sox fan!), this moment with my son was ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE! Thank you!
And THANK YOU all for your hard work and for helping to bridge the gap; the gap between us and our grandparents and parents, long since passed away...and most of all for the connection with our kids!"

My thoughts were with my Grandfather, my Father and my Mother, all who have passed on and then with my brothers, who shared I so many Sox moments with and finally to my family. What a momentous moment, in my life, our life!

I BELIEVED!

What a great weekend to be a Boston Sports fan! The Sox keep rolling, winning the first 2 games of the World Series...and the Patriots methodically defeated the J-E-T-S, 13-7 to win their 21st in a row! SWEET!

I'm trying to stay low key on the Sox. I remember getting so high, back in 1986, when they won the first 2 games on the road and came back to Fenway for 3 games, up 2-0 on the series. We all know how that turned out! ..."a bounding ball..."

KEEP THE FAITH!

WOW! Unbelievable! But just as I kept the faith, 100%, was called a "crazy and dillusional Sox fan by my co-workers, the series played out just as I told them I had hoped it would. "Game 4 is the key game," I told them. After that, "we have Pedro and Schilling, 2 of the best pitcher's in the league, so we'll be set up to push it to 7 game...then, I like our chances against Kevin Brown!" Must be the Indian in me, but it played out perfectly! We won game 4 and Pedro kept us in game 5, before we came back again...and we all know what Schilling did on that sutured ankle of his to force a deciding game 7.

Now, I hope the Cards win because they were the best in the National League and...we need to excercise those 1946 & 1967 Demons as well!

GO SOX!

WOW! Ok, as you may have read earlier in my blogs, I have been to many, many historical and exciting Red Sox games over the years. The most historic, being the 1978 "Extra game" against the Yankees to decide the American League East title. You know, the one where a guy named Bucky "f@#%&" Dent hit his famous 3 run homer to help defeat the Red Sox before going on to win the World Series. And going on to win the Series helped make the game even more historic, after the fact. Well, of all the exciting, memorable, historic games I have been to, I think game 5 against the Yankees (10/18/04) tops them all. And, hopefully, the game may become even more historic after the fact as well, should the Sox "Reverse the Curse" and win the ALCS!

And to top it off, I was with my brother, Jeff (and his son Evan) and my son Trevor. Now in an ironic twist of fate, it was Jeff and I, me at age 14, Jeff at 10, who ventured from Brockton to Fenway (alone) to see the 1978 Bucky Dent game.
I couldn't help but think of that all day and as we talked to our boys, we reminisced about how I left my younger brother at Fenway Park, after being separated in the post game crowd. ...How Jeff was reported to have approached strangers asking if they'd "seen my brother, he's wearing a red jacket?" (Ok, that would narrow it down, LOL). As we walked to the Park last night, we spoke to our boys about how historic and memorable the game was and how we'll remember it the rest of our lives. We talked about how, 8 years later, we ventured together to all of the playoff and World Series games at Fenway in 1986. I told Evan how his father, then 19, was a "wildman" after a couple of the games, particularly after game 5 of the World Series; taking a plastic Mets helmet, holding it high above his head like a football receiver would after a touchdown pass, then, in front of tv newscameras, spiked the helmet to the ground...and as the helmet shattered into thousands of pieces, the crowd in Kenmore Square went nuts.

"Ah, those were the days," we said, "they don't come like that anymore!" WE WERE WRONG!

Last year, the season ended with my, then, 11 year old son in my arms, wailing and sobbing for nearly 2 hours after Aaron "^%&()(" Boone hit the walk off homerun in game #7. I was left feeling like I had "exposed" my son to something terrible, just as I was exposed and hurt when I was 12 years old, back in 1975 when we lost to the Reds. "What have I done?" I asked myself. But at the same time, felt a wonderful connection. My baseball crazy son was missing one piece to the puzzle...the true pain, felt for generations. The pain of being a diehard Red Sox fan! Now...the puzzle was complete. Now, he's...one of us!

And fittingly, the circle was complete. Jeff and I, reliving those painful, yet exciting Red Sox moments, failures. My son and I, Jeff and his son, together...our sons being nearly the same ages as we were in 1978 on that fateful October 2nd day of Red Sox infamy. And again, I FELT THE CONNECTION. I felt the irony, so warm and thick that it was almost too strange to actually be real. The moments of defeat and pain in 1978, in 1986 shared with my brother, Jeff; the same defeat and pain in 2003, shared with my son, Trevor, now all coming full circle and we witness one of the greatest playoff games in Red Sox history together...well, its bittersweet karma, that I hope becomes more meaningful in the upcoming days.

This was one of, if not the most exciting Sox game I've been to in my life. Thats over 1,000 games worth. And for now, the baseball "circle of life" has come 'round full circle and I am just going to enjoy the moment while I can.

GO SOX!

Friday night's game was rained out, then our Sox lost 19-8 last night to go down 3-0! UGH!
I am going to the Patriots game against Seattle today, but I can't help but think of the Sox. It will take a miracle!
I think game 4 is the key. If D-Lowe can pitch his butt off and the Sox win, they will have Pedro tomorrow, then Schilling in game 6. Two great pitchers! They'd be in a good position to force a game 7. A long shot, but if they win tonight, I think Pedro will win tomorrow and Schilling is soooo determined...I think he will come up big!

Come on, boys! BELIEVE!

As I await the latest weather update, my stomach is tossing and turning as the afternoon wanes and gametime nears. Gametime? Yea, you know, Sox-Yanks, game 3 of the ALCS! A must win for our boys of Summer. I am taking my son, T, and I am very confident about the outcome, IF, they can get the game in. My fear? Its being down 2-1 in the 6th inning and they call the game and we lose in a rain shortened affair. I love our chances, not only tonight, but also in making this a LONG series and winning it in 7 behind the courageous arm of Curt Schilling. 2 outta 3 in Boston is very likely, but I'd love to see us win all 3 and go back to the Death Star, I mean Yankee Stadium, needing to win one more to wash away a lot of pain and misery...and be gone with the dreaded Evil Empire! (But as we know from history, it will not be the end...not until Lord Vader and the Emporer are destroyed!)

I will be seated under the roof, behind home plate, so my desire to stay fairly dry should not be a problem. I am hoping the heavy rain "won't come down for a while!" as Bill Murry so aptly put in the movie "Caddyshack".
As hard as it is for me to admit, win or lose, my life will go on and I will survive. But until then, my heart will pound, my head will be abuzz with fears, possibilities, dreams...and I will soak it all in tonight & one way or another we'll go on.

GO SOX!

Welcome to the wacky, wild, emotional, yet sometimes sedate world of Fldodreams.
Here you will be able to read some of the writings of Fldodreams, including stories, poems, ramblings and more.

I'm a sports nut, live and die with my Red Sox and will suffer from psychotic roller coaster episodes of depression and elation, a sort of baseball bipolar syndrome, until the day that my beloved Sox win the World Series. I have been to many many BIG Red Sox games over the years, including the "Bucky Dent" game back in 1978 (October 2nd, to be exact), all of the playoff and Series games in 1986, last year's Yankee series and most recently, game 2 of the ALCS in Yankee Stadium and I'm taking my son to game 3 on Friday night. (10/15/04)

I've also been to Super Bowls, hundreds of Bruins games, particularly in the late 70's, 80's and early 90's when I went to over 50% of the games. I was even just off the 17th green, in 1999, when Justin Leonard sank his long long double tiered putt at Brookline Country Club to cap the improbable comeback for the US as they captured the Ryder Cup! And way way back in the day, I went to a few Celtic Championship Series games.

So, as a true New England sports fanatic, I've seen more than a lifetime's worth of special games and lived through some tremendous experiences. I'll highlight some of them here from time to time...just for kicks. From some wild childhood scams we pulled off back in the day, to get Sox tickets, to bizarre "Native American" visions, as my buddies call it, around outcomes and happenings. (Why can't I have one of the visions around POWERBALL winning numbers?)

Anyway...or is it anyways???? Anywayzzzz, on with the show...