Â…the rest can stay in the kitchen*.

This last weekend I took my wife, Ktreva, to see the Packer/Browns game. Yes, my team lost which sucks, but that is life. For all of the naysayers out there, remember the Packers started last season with a 1-4 record and ended up with a 10-6 and the division. There are 14 games left so donÂ’t get too worked up yet.

On the way up, we made excellent time. We were behind this Semi averaging 80 MPH; we drafted most of the way to Green Bay behind him. It was nice. However, we lost him around Fon Du Lac. When we got to Oshkosh, we were stuck in traffic. The city is on both sides of Lake Butte Des Morts; however, the only bridge that crosses it is the highway. We hit Oshkosh right around 5:15 when everyone that worked on the south side of the lake was trying to get to their homes on the north side. It was insane. We went 10 miles in 30 minutes.

We spent Saturday buying Packer items, including mud flaps for my truck, clothes and Packer Lingerie for the wifeÂ… Its football and sexÂ… how can you go wrong? We also went through the Packer Hall of Fame and took a tour of Lambeau Field. The tour was great because we were able to go out the tunnel the Packers run out of every home game. We were able to walk along the edge of the field itself, however we were specifically told to stay off the grass. I was a bad man. After weighing the possible penalties, I decided I had to take the risk. The only people around me where my wife and the tour guide and he seemed to be pre-occupied with the other members of our group; so, I reached down and touched the grass. He caught me and I just gave him a guilty look and was ready to be thrown out of the stadium. He just laughed and shook his head. Apparently some fan does it every tour group. To me I wasnÂ’t sure if I would ever have the chance to be down there again. Being a life long Packer fan I had to do it!

My wife was great; she understood my little idiosyncrasies and played along with them. She also was excited at the whole Packer Experience. Being able to revel in the history and legends of one of the founding teams of the NFL AND the only team that has its original name. All of the others have either changed names and/or cities.

There were Cleveland Brown’s fans there of course. Even they seemed to enjoy the city and the stadium. The only complaint I heard from the Brown’s fans was; “Packer fans are way too nice.” That just goes to show you that Packer fans are the greatest and classiest fans on the face of the earth.

I ended up wearing jeans and a Jersey to the game. Five minutes before kickoff I was regretting not wearing shorts, it was hot! Well it was hot to me, IÂ’m used to winter games. It was nice that we werenÂ’t all cramped together. When you go to winter games, the seating is very cramped due to all the cold weather gear everyone wears.

On Sunday, during half time, the PackerÂ’s retired Reggie WhiteÂ’s number 92. It was a nice ceremony. IÂ’ll admit I got a little misty-eyed, especially when they unveiled his name and number on the ring of Fame at Lambeau. His was only the fifth number to be retired in Packer history. The others are Don HutsonÂ’s 14, Tony CanadeoÂ’s 3, Bart StarrÂ’s 15 and Ray NitschkeÂ’s 66. You may not be a Packer fan, but you canÂ’t deny that Reggie was a class act and one of the greatest defensive players ever to play the game. ItÂ’s a shame that he was taken at such a young age from this world.

I pressed my luck again with speeding, and succeeded, I didnÂ’t get a ticket. We were able to get out of the Stadium at the end of the game and back home by 9:30. I made sure to note the times because IÂ’ve had people tell me that it isnÂ’t possible to go to a 3:15 game in Lambeau and make it back to Rockford before 10 PM. Of course I averaged 10 MPH over, but arenÂ’t speed limits more of a suggestion anyway?

* as seen on a T-shirt in Green Bay, WI

Posted by: Contagion at 12:56 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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Every year for the last 12 years, I have gone to at least one Green Bay Packer game a season. Mostly in Green Bay at Lambeau field, sometimes in other stadiums. This year is different then all of the other years. For the first time ever IÂ’m seeing a game played in September. Prior to this game, the earliest I had ever been to a Packer game was the second weekend in October, and I had luxury box seats.

They are calling for the weather to be in the 70Â’s with minimal chance of rain. When packing I realized that I was short on the warm weather clothes for the stadium. Since 90% of the games IÂ’ve been to were in December, I have tons of clothes for cold weather! The thought of wearing shorts into a stadium kind of scares me. IÂ’ve never been able to do that before this weekend. Something is inherently wrong with wearing shorts to a football game.

Posted by: Contagion at 12:39 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Football addiction has taken a turn for the worse. Help needed… quickly. Wife is an enabler. Last night I decided I needed to “play” football, unfortunately I didn’t have any football games. Today on lunch, I went out and bought an Xbox and Madden ’06. Between that and my going to Greenbay this weekend for the game, you probably won’t see much of me for the next couple of weeks.

The worst part is that Boopie has been asking me to buy him an Xbox for two years now, and I keep telling him he doesn't need one. He's going to be so mad when he sees it. That and the fact I've already decided that since I'm plugging it into the main TV of the house the only time he will get to play it is when A) I am not playing it. 2) My wife doesn't want to watch the TV. D) I don't want to watch the TV. That pretty much leaves at night when he is sleeping.

Posted by: Contagion at 12:56 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 you are mean. MEAN.

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 14, 2005 02:09 PM (/xzJW)

2 I call bullshit.

You know you're going to let him play it.

Of course you'll only be letting him play against you at Madden so you can rack up a 77-13 victory on him and taunt him mercilessly, but he'll play nonetheless...

Posted by: Graumagus at September 14, 2005 05:43 PM (4+cpv)

3 He asked to play it last night and was denied. Plus I only have one controller.

Posted by: Contagion at September 15, 2005 07:11 AM (Q5WxB)

4 I'm just still trying to figure out how you going out and blowing $200 on a video game over your lunch break makes your wife an enabler

Posted by: S at September 15, 2005 11:45 PM (QdXXD)

5 Because she paid for it.

Posted by: Contagion at September 16, 2005 07:25 AM (Q5WxB)

6 Ahhhh yup - I guess that would count

Posted by: S at September 16, 2005 11:40 PM (vmdqQ)

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Just finished watching the most important game of this weekendÂ…. And my team lost.

This sucks. The penalties killed us. Unless Ahmad Carroll starts to show improvement, heÂ’s going to be the death of the Packers. HeÂ’s like Bawah Jue of the last couple of season. If he doesn't learn how to keep his hands out of recievers faces, he is going to bring enough penalties down on the Packers to cause even the Bears offense to look good.

At least itÂ’s only the first week. There are 16 weeks left, 15 games to go. One loss does not eliminate a team this early on.

Damn our defense!

Unfortunately my Green Bay support person had surgery this week. (I hope he is doing well, no one has responded to my messages inquiring on his status) So I have no one to vent to. Then again, maybe I should contact a Bear fan; they can sympathize with me.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:41 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Thank Goodness you and TNT weren't in the same place at the same time. Oh and don't ever ask her about how long to measure for a first down. Not a good question at all.

Posted by: Tammi at September 11, 2005 09:23 PM (75hCw)

2 Yep, you've got my sympathy even if that was meant as a dig... it's true.

Carroll... I had heard him referred to as Grabby Carroll earlier this summer. Looks like he's picked up right where he left off last year. What a bone head.

Hell, he's got more penalties after one game then some teams do!

Posted by: That 1 Guy at September 12, 2005 12:11 AM (2Ecbf)

3 Tammi, I could have used the support of another Packer Fan.

T1G: he was bad last year, and appears to only be getting worse.

Posted by: Contagion at September 12, 2005 07:38 AM (Q5WxB)

4 Doing the Snoopy Dance.

Ah ha

lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won,lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won, lions won.

How many touchdowns did the packers make?

Um None!

Hee hee hee

Posted by: Machelle at September 12, 2005 02:47 PM (ZAyoW)

5 Yea, the Lions have been bottom dwellers for so long the Packer's decided to give them a little something to cheer them up.

Posted by: Contagion at September 12, 2005 02:55 PM (Q5WxB)

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Packer T-shirtÂ…. Check
Packer hatÂ…. Check
WhiskyÂ…. Check
BeerÂ…. Check
Pop (aka Soda, aka Coke, but only if you are from the south because IÂ’m not drinking coke)Â…. Check
Hot WingsÂ…. Check
SnacksÂ…. Check
Printouts of every pool/Fantasy team IÂ’m inÂ…. Check
Clip Board with pens and highlighters to make notesÂ…. Check
Latest Packer Pro Shop and NFL Shop catalogsÂ…. Check

This can only mean one thing: FOOTBALL TIME! OH YEAH!

Today is the first Sunday in football season. Thursday nights game between the Pats and the Raiders was very entertaining and helped cool my football fever, but it wasnÂ’t enough to give me the fix that I needed. Mainly because neither team is in my division so the outcome of the game did not have a direct impact on my Packers.

Today is a different story; at noon CST my wife will become a football widow. This will last all the way until February. She doesnÂ’t mind, as a football fan herself, she just doesnÂ’t understand my deep love and infatuation of the game.

You will have to excuse me now while I go do my pre-game rituals.

Posted by: Contagion at 10:47 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Directions to pass out to my blog family to come join in the party.......No check!

:-P

Have fun today! I'll save some heartburn pills for you for after the game!

Posted by: Sissy at September 11, 2005 11:45 AM (uXS+O)

2 Sissy: If I had even the inclination that you where going to be in the area I would have made plans to watch the games with you. However, It's probably best no one watched the games with me, as I was pretty foul mouthed.... Clone picked up some new workds.

Posted by: Contagion at September 11, 2005 06:33 PM (e8b4J)

3 I tried watching football with a friend, but apparently you guys get irate when we ask questions in an attempt to understand the game we are watching. I upset my friend's ritual with his game, college football i think Notre Dame, and i was made aware it was not ok to do that. This entry made me think of that, crazy football fans.

Posted by: Sarah at September 11, 2005 11:15 PM (HcLSL)

4 Does your pre-game ritual include masturbating while watching Packer's highlight DVD's?

Oh, and you never sent me an E-Mail asking about Jay. I would have responded to that.

Posted by: littlejoe at September 12, 2005 01:28 AM (gpXkb)

5 You don't wear one of those hats shaped like a brick of triangular cheese? I thought all Packers fans did.

Posted by: Bou at September 12, 2005 06:31 AM (5JHEt)

6 In his case, it's not a hat... that's just how his head is shaped. A true Packer fan!

Posted by: That 1 Guy at September 12, 2005 07:22 AM (6r2z3)

7 Sarah: Not everyone gets mad, it just depends on the timing. If there is a big drive going and the action is fast, it's not the right time to ask. Otherways I don't mind explaining, That's how my wife learned.

LJ: No it doesn't, and yes I did.

Bou: I do only at the games or if it is a big game that I'm watching. Otherways it's way too warm to wear.

T1G: You're just jealous that the Bears don't have any signature items that they are known for around the country. Wait, I'm sorry... they sure do! They are known for changing QBs every 2-3 games!

Posted by: Contagion at September 12, 2005 07:41 AM (Q5WxB)

8 At least the only new words my toddler's picking up (so far) are "Run!" and "Get him!"

The six-year-old has finally evidenced an interest in football, as well. I think his father is a bit miffed that he's asking me all his questions, though.

Posted by: Jenna at September 14, 2005 03:56 PM (f/kUC)

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Tonight at 8:00 PM CST NFL regular season starts. The reigning Super Bowl champs take on the troubled Oakland Raiders. Any team that has Randy Moss is going to be troubled.

I can barely contain my excitment. If it wasn't for the fact that I have a position that requires a certain level of dress, I'd be coming to work wearing my Jersey and all my football gear. As it is I am wearing Packer sox and underwear... not that any of you wanted to know that.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:45 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Some of you may not realize that a large chunk of my life revolves around football. From the first regular season game through the Pro-Bowl, I track my team and players. Whenever football is on TV, I generally want to watch it, unless itÂ’s two teams I could care less about and the game has no impact on the Green Bay Packers.

Now my football season may be extended, much to the chagrin of my understanding wife. It seems that Rockford has picked up an Indoor Football League team called the Raptors. Today, with my wifeÂ’s permission, I looked into purchasing season tickets.

I know it’s only Indoor or “Arena” football… but once February hits I tend to get depressed and that is a long time from February to September. This would fill part of that gap. Plus indoor football is better then no football!

Now if I could only get my season tickets to the Packers! IÂ’m only 1051 away!

Posted by: Contagion at 06:28 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 I've always thought indoor football could be pretty fun to watch.

I was checking out their website (raptorsuif.com) to see if I could find past scores for these guys, but couldn't find anything.
They have to lose pretty consistantly to fit in well with the other local teams

Posted by: S at September 07, 2005 07:07 PM (vZmiQ)

2 I saw that and let me just say ARENA FOOTBALL ROCKS!! I am very excited about this.

It's a good thing. A very good thing!!

Posted by: Tammi at September 07, 2005 08:59 PM (vzJ4y)

3 1051, huh? SO that's what? 30 years?

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 08, 2005 03:32 AM (4CXQ5)

4 Well good, when I get my season tickets I know I'll add you to the list of possibles to give them to if I can't make a game.

CTG: that puts me about about 10 years.

Posted by: Contagion at September 08, 2005 08:01 AM (Q5WxB)

5 I can see the headline now

"Kilt-Wearing Packers Fan Murders 1050 - Pleads With Cops To 'Let Me Finish!'"

Posted by: Harvey at September 09, 2005 10:42 AM (ubhj8)

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