Michelle and I spent a week in Cuba from Feb 12-19th 2007. Here is a summary of the events:

Our flight left Sunday evening bound for Cayo Coco Cuba. We arrived around 10pm at the Melia Cayo Guillermo resort in the Cuban Keys. Check-in was easy and we quickly unpacked our room. The room was OK and has a few minor annoyances but for the most part it was sufficient.

The resort has very good food with a lot of variety. Everything from the A La Carte's to the sandwiches at the pool bar were great. It didn't feel like much repeating of the food selection over the course of the week and my favorite dessert was the banana flambe.

The pool was busy and has a lot going on during the day. We spent the last 3 days by the pool since the weather was not so great. The first 4 days we spent at the beach and it was amazing. The water was crystal clear and the sand was very soft. We really enjoyed our time there and it truly was something you would see in a magazine or postcard.

At night we would take in the entertainment show which was surprisingly good. The dancers were very athletic and the shows were well choreographed. The highlight was the valentines day show which was great.

Our flight home was delayed a bit but for the most part it was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip for both of us. If anyone is looking for a quiet and cost effective resort in Cuba let me know and I'll provide the details.

Saints starting quarterbacks since 1987....
Bobby Hebert
John Fourcade
Steve Walsh
Jim Everett
Heath Shuler
Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Hobert
Danny Wuerrfel
Doug Nussmeier
Kerry Collins
Jeff Blake
Aaron Brooks

Not many pleasant memories when I look at that list. It may be forgotten after today.

1st
Saints will attempt to pound the rock in the middle with limited success early in the game. Bears will likely score first probably on a big play where the Saints secondary gets burned. Bears will have a tonne of early momentum but the Saints will have one decent drive to get 3 points up on the board in the 1st quarter.
Bears 7 : Saints 3

2nd
Bears will respond with a field goal of their own off some Saints mistake (turnover) early in the 2nd quarter. Saints will continue to pound the middle and after a couple first downs start to run some play action to grab some big yards. Saints pound it in for 7. On the next Bears possession Sexy Rexy turns it over. Saints get no 1st downs and then miss a field goal.

Bears 10 : Saints 10

3rd
Bears have a ton of momentum early in the 2nd half but only manage to get 3 points after a long drive. Saints start to open up the play book and mix inside running with some swing passes and screens to Reggie. Saints drive the field and get 7 points. Rex starts to fall apart and the Bears can't get any first downs. Saints continue to pound the middle and Bears LB's are wearing out.

Saints 17 : Bears 13

4th
Saints come away from another long drive with only a field goal. Bears continue to not have any offense. Reggie Bush returns a punt for 7. Bears score on a big play late in the game but it's too little too late.

Final:
Saints 27 : Bears 20

Rewind to April 29th 2006. I am vacationing at Atlantis in the Bahamas and sitting by the pool. The NFL draft is about to begin. I pickup my draft magazine give Michelle a kiss and head into the casino where a number of NFL fans have gathered in the sporting lounge. After a couple minutes of analysis the Houston Texans select Mario Williams with the #1 pick. This is a shocking turn of events given the consensus number 1, Reggie Bush, is still left on the board. Shortly after the New Orleans Saints select Reggie Bush with the number 2 overall pick. I look up a the betting board and the New Orleans Saints have 60-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. These odds are obviously quite bad given only one team is worse with 75-1 odds and why not given the Saints were a dismal 3-13 the season prior. I walk up to the betting counter and put $20 on the Saints to win the Super Bowl. The clerk smirks at me having just seen the Saints draft Bush. The ticket is worth$1200US. I return to the pool and relax with Michelle ticket in hand.

This leads to today. The Saints proceeded to win 10 games this season (most since 2000) and acquire the #2 seed in the NFC (1st time in team history). They did so with a strong offense including Brees, Bush, Mcallister, Horn, Colston. The defense was ok, not great, but not terrible either. This weekend they played the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC semi-final game. The Saints have made the playoffs before but this is the first year I actually thought they could go deep and win some games. The Saints feel behind 21-13 in the 3rd quarter but managed to win the game 27-24. The Saints are in the NFC championship game for the first time ever!

To make matters even more crazy, my good friends Pat and Ian's team the Chicago Bears will be playing the Saints next weekend. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent talking football with those guy so I guess it's fitting we would play each other for a birth in the Super Bowl. The game is in Chicago which makes it tough for the Saints but I actually considered driving the Chicago to watch the game. Michelle convinced me not to :-)

I still have the $1200 ticket although I can honestly say I didn't think about it once during the game last weekend. It about more than money at this point...it's about 20 years of watching every game and 20 years of heartbreak. To go farther than they ever had is a huge accomplishment so no matter what happen I will be happy. Go Saints.