East-West Shrine Game 2011.

Saturday I drove up to Orlando bright an early with a quick stop at Orlando's coolest McDonald's for a diet coke...

I texted that picture to Ellen and Candy Saturday morning to let them know Orlando McD's are nothing like Scott County - although I have to say the Scott County McD is hoppin on Saturday mornings and this one was falling behind despite it's size.

I headed to the home of the Citrus Bowl to work a pregame tailgate at the East-West Shrine game. For all my non-football fans this is bascially the college version of the Pro Bowl. The best college players from all the various teams come together and combine on two teams (the east and west) and play each other.

Shriners Hospitals for Children are teamed up with All Pro Dad and so my coworkers Jim & Brenda as well as myself went to work an All Pro Dad table at the tailgate. It was a smidge chilly (50 degrees) and we were bundled up in our multi-layers and winter coats but a good time was had by all.

The highlight of the day though, has to be Gus the camel, who belongs to the Orlando Shrine...

The Shriners who were present with Gus made sure I got plenty of Gus kisses throughout the day and they took enough pictures of me to fill an album. Let's hope I don't end up on the Shrine website kissing the camel. : ] But really, Gus was a sweetie and I learned quite a lot about camels in my time there.

I proudly sported my 'I've been kissed by Gus' sticker for the rest of the day.

What a way to spend a Saturday - kissin camels.

Love,
B

Highlights.

This weekend was incredible. Exhausting (I'm feeling it now), but incredible. After being absent from my blog for a week or so, I wanted to take the time to share a few highlights from this wonderful weekend with you.

I flew to Indiapolis, Indiana Friday morning. My first of 5 trips between now at the end of 2009. As some of you know this is home to my wonderful parents and my team, the Indianapolis Colts. I flew in with our All Pro Dad team, arriving just after lunch time Friday. We drove straight to the Colts practice facility to begin preparations for the following day's festivities.

I haven't been in my current position long but it probably goes without saying the Colts event has a special place in my heart. This years spokesmen including Coach Jim Caldwell, Coach Clyde Christensen (Daddy dearest), Pierre Garcon, and Eric Foster. Our event registration was 1800 Dad's and Kids to join us for this years 'Colts Father & Kid's Experience'.

Anyway, lets get to the point. 2009 Colts FKE Weekend Highlights:

- My family getting to spend time over dinner with my Family First coworkers. Aaamazing. We did dinner at Bravo Friday night and my parents had a blast getting to know the team. Now they are in total agreement that I have wonderful coworkers here.

- 3 of my best friends (Candy, Meredith, & Kate) drove hours each to be a part of my event Saturday, as volunteers. I truly have the best friends a girl could ask for.

- My buddies from my days working at Ford (in college) came out to the event with their families. It was great to see Tabler, Bill, and of course sweet Kristen!

- Another amazing dinner out @ my favorite Indy restraunt (Stone Creek Grill) with my best friends and my parents. What a fun night!

- Candy, Mer, Mom, and I had a blast at the Colts v. Houston game Sunday - cheering Dad and the boys to a victory. This win makes our team 8-0. What a great season this has been!

And I will close this with a funny. My Dad and I managed to introduce ourselves to 2 complete strangers who were innocently walking into Bravo Friday night, thinking they were with our group. Oops! I got totally snubbed. Sorry Bravo, I think we overwelmed your guests.

Love,

B

HHGregg & Tony Dungy.

I know I've been a bit MIA lately. Work has been busy but the results of our teams hard work has certainly been worth a little time away from the blog. Here's a little taste of what's been going on. Tonight we drove to Clearwater, FL for the Grand Opening of an HHGregg store where Coach Tony Dungy came out to kick off what I know will be a great start for HHGregg in the Tampa area. HHGregg has been a loyal supporter of the All Pro Dad program from years now and has been key in putting on All Pro Dad events in the Indianapolis area so of course, has a special place in my heart. Here's a few pictures from the event...

Coach Tony Dungy encouraging the community and doing a great job, as always.

Kyle & I at the event - he was sweet enough to come out and lend a hand.

Pedro & I - who also came out to volunteer for the event.

Here's just a small taste of where I've been the last few weeks. Sadly, I didn't take many pictures on our Nashville event weekend - but I do have some great shots from Jacksonville that will be coming soon.

Thanks for all your kind encouragement in recent days and with the start of this new chapter in my life. I'm grateful for the support system you provide!

Love,

B

Titans Weekend.

I just touched down in Tampa, returning from my weekend in Nashville, Tennessee.  It was my first All Pro Dad event on Staff.  The weather was perfect.  Low 70s, sunny, with a nice breeze off the water beside the practice facility.  We couldn't have picked a better day for an outdoor event.  Though, I probably should have though through the polo v-neck tan-line I was going to acquire.  Really attractive.

The weekend was great fun and the event went well.  A successful first of hopefully many events with the All Pro Dad event team. : ]  I even managed to pack in a carryon bag for the first time in my entire life!  It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought, in fact I think I could do it going home for long weekends now that I've made myself do it once.  I'm joining the world of low maintenance travel!

Sadly, I didn't get as much reading done on the plane as I hoped.  I normally can't sleep on planes but I didn't have a bit of trouble this go around.  I didn't read at night since my 'roomie' was way more entertaining than my literature.

Sadly, I didn't find time to use my camera once the entire trip BUT I did manage to snap a few cell phone pictures.  Here ya go...

Possibly the most interesting 'guests' of this weekends event were the Comcast crew with the Starwars clones and oh yes, Obe.

Since it's for work I felt like it was ok that I was behind enemy lines. : ]  Titans territory.  I didn't get to see my fellow Purdue Alum who plays there but we did get to have a brief chat on the phone.  It was funny to see that we had made similar observations about the differences between Nashville people and Indy people.

Here a picture of the participants and the back of our MC for the day, Brent from 104.5 the Zone.  In the background you can see the Titan's practice 'bubble'.  I was a little sad I didn't get to go inside.

Well time for me to get down to business since being gone all weekend means I have laundry and grocery shopping to do for this week.

Love,

B

This weekend/NFL Week 4.

Here are my week four picks:

Wash (v. TB)
NE (v. Bal)
Jax (v. Tenn)
Houston (v. Oak)
Cinci (v. Clev)
Indy (v. Seattle)
Giants (v. KC)
Chi (v. Det)
Buf (v. Mia)
NO (v. Jets)
SF (v. STL)
Dal (v. Den)
Pit (v. SD)
GB (v. Minn)

Thoughts?

I'm headed now to Nashville, TN to work my first event on staff, with our Titans spokesmen and the All Pro Dad team (http://www.allprodad.com/). I'm excited for a great weekend of helping Daddies (and maybe some mommies) bond with their kids and build good habits for great relationships! I'm bringing my camera so hopefully there will be pics up after the weekend. Nashville here I come!

Love,
B

Photo Journal of Indy Trip

I thought it would be a fun change of pace to document my Indy trip via cell phone pics and then make a sort of photoblog of it. Oh the places you will go...

First pic: The Indy Airport. I arrived in Indy after midnight, exhausted after an 8 hour work day, 2 plane flights, and some total creepsters sitting next to me. Thanks AirTran.


This is the cafeteria area, where the players eat and sometimes listen to someone talk. For the purposes of the event, this is where our VIPs got to chat with the coaches and player, get their pics taken, and have their gear autographed. It was a big hit.



Next pic is home to the VIP check in area, which turned out to be my place of choice for the event. Marlene and I tackled checking in of the VIPs which ran smoothly for the most part. I really want a silver metal horseshoe like that one for my room. Wonder where I can get one...legally. : ]

The event! The tiny man in yellow in this photo is Dad giving his breif words of wisdom to the crowd out on the practice field! Always fun to work events with my Daddy. Also fun to hear Coach Caldwell and quarterback Jim Sorgi speak on fatherhood. Great crew this year & great crowd!

This pic is during a later office tour we took Ruthie (right) and Lindsay (left) on. Linds was visiting us from Tennessee! Love her. Don't you wish your office had a game room?!

Where the grunt work takes place. Pictured is Dad and half of Ruthie in the weight room trying out a few machines. It's safe to report, I don't have what it takes to be a Colt, at least not ON the field.
Well, that was short but sweet. Hope you enjoyed. Sadly, did not manage to picture my lovely dinner with Candy & Josh OR my 2 hours stint on the golfcart delivering families to their cars after the event. Another great week with the All Pro Dad team as well as with the fam!

Love,
B