I am heading to the Super Bowl in New Orleans today! I can’t believe what I just wrote! I am actually getting in a car that is bound for the Big Easy!

I am a die-hard Baltimore Ravens fan. I grew up a Baltimore Colts fan and am still a little bitter about their move to Indianapolis. I left Baltimore in 1979, but returned in 2002. In the ensuing years, wherever I lived I cheered on the Baltimore sports teams. My sister’s family has season tickets to the Ravens, so over the years I have gone to games. Big Games, like AFC play-off games!

And I was at Ray Lewis’ last home game. I snapped a shot of him dancing after the final play!

I hoped we might win in the season ticket holder lottery–NOPE! I entered soooo many sweepstakes and contests online for tickets. I passed on all the entry links to my family in hopes that someone would win. Finally on Tuesday, my niece, who lives in Denver now, called and said she had WON the Soda Stream Super Bowl Giveaway. Imagine the excitement. She was going to take her Dad! The package was valued at $15,000. Wow! I had never been so close to a real contest winner! Here she is at a game a few years ago. I know her and my brother are going to have the time of the lives! Both are such huge RAVENS fans!!

But, here’s what happened next….

My brother-in-law and I had been tracking the price of tickets online. We had hoped to be able to get some affordable tickets, with a view of the field! Each day I would ‘sigh’ and sign off–too expensive. All that changed on Tuesday. Motivation! Excitement! Let’s Go! We now knew someone going…could we find tickets and get there????? YES! Sarah’s win pushed us over the top. We had to go! We found a deal on four tickets, we found a place to stay for free and we could drive there. My sister, brother-in-law, nephew and I are getting in a car in a few hours for a very long drive to New Orleans…about 17 hours. I do not think any of us in the car will be complaining. We are going to the SUPER BOWL.

If you don’t have a team to cheer for, how about joining me in cheering on the RAVENS?!!

I will post some shots from my trip when I return! GO RAVENS!!

PS–I have always been a huge fan of Soda Stream and now even more. You can read my earlier review of their product here.

AND A BIG SHOUT-OUT to my sister Janice who is staying back to care for my Mom..and watch the game from the comfort of my sofa! Thanks Jan!