And the Hotel Starts to Fill
Friday 07th September 2007
at 08:57pm
Is there a game in town this week or something? There are Eagles hats and jerseys all over the place. Where are all the Packers fans I ask? This puzzled me somewhat, at least until I remembered a little something. We are living in a hotel so who should we expect to see here but fans that also need to stay in a hotel? I.E. the visiting fans. Feeling somewhat stupid I am relieved by my recollection that home team fans sleep in their homes as opposed to hotels just for the sake of it.
The hotel is filling up now. There are alot “McNabbs” (Philadelphia QB for all you Aussies) walking around the lobby this morning. Haven’t the Eagles got any other players worthy of a replica shirt??? Now hold on, the barbs stop there. I don’t want to turn this site into a tit for tat over who’s the better team. I mean we know the Packers have actually won Superbowls right, sorry that’s the last one I promise.
Anyway, outside of the big one on Sunday I am totally living it up on the College and High School football broadcasts. I still can’t believe how into High School football everyone is here. It’s incredible. I just want to go and watch Varsity Blues and Friday Night Lights over and over and over again. No, seriously I really do think it’s incredible. I’d have loved to bring my 17 year-old style to the park each week and kangaroo hop my way to the end-zone. In fact any Aussie kid would give his little sister to play in front of the sorts of crowds and cameras that these kids get to play in front of. I was flicking through a few channels last night so I didn’t get the specifics but man what a spectacle. Back home most schools sports, including the big two, Rugby League and Australian Rules, both codes of football, are played for the most part during school hours so you don’t get any real crowd participation at all. From what I’ve seen so far of Varsity Football I can say it’s a great way to showcase what you have worked so hard for each year.
With respect to travelling I think it’s safe to say that we have all settled in nicely now. Touch wood the jet lag is gone and the normalcy that has started to creep back into our lives since arriving here will remain. At least until we head home anyway.
Today, after a little unrest last night and this morning we made plans for our future accommodation and the Giants game in New York next week. To put into perspective what we’re actually doing here we left the pressures of our everyday lives at home. At least we thought. As it turns out, all we’ve done is trade the worries of my job, Kelly’s day to day life with the kids and our mortgage for the concerns of what times should we travel, where are we going to stay and what are we doing to save money 2 weeks into a non-working 20 week vacation?
Alot of people, when coming to terms with what we’re doing here tend to comment on how lucky we are. And we are. In saying that though, making decisions like those above with the boys, our sanity and what little funds we have in mind certainly keeps the entire trip in perspective. Anyway enough of this morning’s decisions ‘cause they don’t make for the best reading.
We went walking today, over the Fox River, past “Foxy Lady” the Titletown Brewery and down to Fort Howard Elementary School. It was a relief for all of us when Ben climbed his first ladder onto the playground equipment they have there. A day burning the energy of a 3 year old who’s ready to explod is a day well spent if you ask us.
Back home in time for the everyday ritual of bathing, feeding and sleeping we are lucky enough to meet another one of our “email” friends Paul. Through Paul we have been introduced to the wonders of Yahoo messenger and the cost savings of making calls via the PC. We knew this existed but thanks to living at home with all of our friends and family close-by we never had the need to look in to it. Paul, again after numerous “please don’ts” brought us a little something also. A 1961, Wisconsin Tissue place-mat of the first Championship team coached by Vince Lombardi. As I said earlier, this is another one of those something’s I never even knew existed so I wanted to extend my thanks to Paul here.
With 2 sleeps to go until one of the biggest days of my life I’ll leave it there. Plus those darn Eagles fans are out there hooting and hollering again. It’s sounds like they’re spelling out their name E-A-G-L or something like that. It’s about the 50th time they’ve sung the same thing. Don’t they.....hang on, I made a promise didn’t I?
Comments
Sat 08th Sep 07
at 10:58pm
Hi. Just read your story. I live in West Virginia. I lived in Green Bay for 25 years and moved here after remarrying after my first husband died. My son still lives in Green Bay. He has a 5 year old daughter. Give him a call if you want to just hang out with a true Packer fan and want just some good old Green Bay life. His name is Tony. Email me back and I will provide you with his phone number. I have told him you will be contacting him. His Mom
Candace
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 02:09am
Wow, you ARE a true Packer Backer. My husband just sent me your link with the comment “This guy doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to become royalty in Green Bay.” ^_^
We lived in WI for quite a few years and will always be Packer fans. I got to go to a Packer game in Milwaukee once, and we’ve traveled to the Holy Land (Lambeau) ^_^ Now that the kids are old enough to really “get it,” we need to go back when we go to visit family in WI. (We’re in MI now.)
Hope you don’t mind if I shamelessly promote you on my blog. ^_^
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 02:35am
Hey everybody-
I think like everyone else we read about you in the paper today. Welcome to Green Bay. I’m an outsider too and I know what its like to move here. I go to school at UWGB and I am a Packers fan from...Chicago. Yeah wait until you go to that game. Anyways, I saw you’re going to the game at the Metrodome too and extending an invite to the tailgating (cooking brats and pork chops and stuff) we’re going to be doing there as we invade Minnesota. Shoot me an email on that or anything else you might need and way to live the dream. Go Pack!
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 03:09am
Your story is amazing and I can’t believe that you are doing it. I am truely jealous! Hopefully I will have a time in my life when I can follow around a sports teams. I look forward to reading your blog! Good luck and go Pack!
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 04:25am
Read about you in the newspaper this A.M....Yep!!!!! Be prepared for Stardom..Packer Style. It is definitely going to be the experience of a lifetime for you. And good for you for persuing your dream. And Kudos to Kelly for going along with it. She has got to be quite the gal!!!
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 04:49am
Your story and loyalty is so admirable it puts a lump in my throat. That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever read and Lord knows we all need happy things to read about these days. This is my happy fix for a long time. Thanks and best of luck to you, Kelly and the tykes. So happy you all made it!
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 06:30am
Welcome to Titletown U.S.A. !
I admire your courage to follow your dream. Enjoy the game and your stay in Green Bay. Looking forward to reading your blog. If you ever want to chat drop me a line
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 06:43am
Welcome to Wisconsin. I just wanted to say don’t be too intimidated by the cold weather. Ive lived in Wisconsin all my life and you never really get used to it. But from my experience living in a climate were you can see 100+ degrees in the summer and -20 degrees in the winter your body kind of gos through a seasonal adjustment period. Im the guy Whos going into work wearing a t-shirt and jeans when its 25 degrees out in the middle of january. But thats just me. I don’t recommend anyone try it. Im sure you’ll have fun while your here. You won’t find friendlier or more hospitable people anywhere else in the United States.
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 06:55am
Welcome! I admire you both. Tomorrow is bound to be a very memorable day for you. Once you enter Lambeau, and the team starts to enter the field, and the roar of the crowd starts, and you can actually feel the pride, you will know that this is truly a once in a lifetime experience. You wont be able to wipe the smile off of your face for a while! Enjoy, I will be there with my husband as well. Go-Pack_Go!!
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 11:02am
Hey!! Welcome to Green Bay! You will have the time of your life at the Game, make sure you take it all in. You will see something different at each game. Enjoy your time here and Best Wishes!! Your free spirit will take you far (as it already has)!!
Sun 09th Sep 07
at 11:47am
Welcome to the U.S. and Green Bay! As a Packer fan living in Indianapolis, IN (Colts country), I applaud you and more your wife and family for doing what many of us dream of. I am a long-time Packer fan and season ticket holder(take that Colts) and drive up for the games. I live for each season and Packer game and appreciate your passion too. Anyway, I highly recommend you take your family up to Door County during the week (for a couple days) this fall to enjoy it’s splendor, fall colors, great towns, shops and villages..it will take your breath away..oh, and be sure to go to a fish boil...it’s a must see and eat experience! I will follow your story all year. Who knows you may find a new life and career here in the states by the end of your stay in Green Bay. The Press Gazette may need you as a writer!! You are a credit to all great Packer fans everywhere!!!
Mon 10th Sep 07
at 06:29am
Hello and welcome to Packer country!!!!! I just wanted to say that my son lives in GB, just 2 blocks from the stadium,,,,,he has a 4 bedroom house and I bet he would just love the company of an Aussie,,,,,,,,I will give him this link so he can contact you if need be............and WELCOME AGAIN!!!!
Wed 12th Sep 07
at 01:04pm
G’Day Maties!
We live in Green Bay and my family is from Brisbane! I still have a Sister/her 4 children, Aunt/Uncle, and several relatives still residing in Aussie Land! We are planning trip down under 8/2008. E-mail is listed above. Let us know, if u need “anything” during your stay in GBay! What wonderful memories for you both and your children! You are brave souls and better yet, you are Packer Backers!
Have fun in New York this weekend...tell them Giants to “Bugger Off” for us 2!
Becky Williamson(Mother’s name Ingold)