Rare five-week gap between shows for Fat Daddy's Sports. The gap started with the December Orland show that I missed due to illness, as previously reported. I didn't schedule any shows during Christmas time because I needed the weekends to shop for gifts. My family had an excellent Christmas, thanks for asking.

At the end of December, we boarded the dog, packed up the car and drove to Florida. That was the week where the temperatures were below zero in the Chicago-Milwaukee areas. Unfortunately, we did not get very far on our first night because there was a snow storm and the roads were scary. The weather was clear the rest of the way and we made it to Orlando on New Year's Eve. We thought about hitting Universal Studios for New Year's Eve but we were a bit road wary and had a nice dinner at a Joe's Crab Shack then hung out in the hotel's game room for a while.

On New Year's Day, we went to Universal Studios. The weather was rainy and in the 50s but we didn't let that stop us. We had a great time, except when we were standing in long lines for rides. The park was packed.

I am a big fan of the Harry Potter books and movies, so the highlight of Universal Studios for me was Diagon Alley. It is a pretty incredible recreation. The only low light was the huge crowds and the enormous wait for the Gringots ride. I bought my son a wand and he had a great time casting spells.

Outside of Diagon Alley, The Men in Black ride was fun. We got to shoot aliens. The boy had the highest score. The Simpson's area was awesome. We hung out a Moe's Tavern and the Quickee Mart. The Simpson's ride was amazing. It is one of those virtual reality rides where you are flying around Springfield. The Transformers ride was fun, as well, though we waited forever to get on that thing.

On January 2nd, we went to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park. It was terribly cold, in the 40s and rainy. We waited a long time to have our photo taken with a dinosaur in the Jurrasic Park Island. The Islands of Adventure has more Harry Potter stuff including an amazing recreation of Hogsmeade Village. Again, there were mass crowds. The boy brought his wand and was able to cast more spells. We waited two hours to go on the Hogwarts ride, which was awesome. If the ride would have been a little longer, it would have been worth the wait. I felt it ended too quickly. Again, it was one of those virtual reality rides and we were flying through the Quiddich Match and evading dementors.

The Cat in the Hat ride reminded me of Disney's "It's a Small World." The line was not to bad and the ride was geared towards little kids. Most of the rides had crazy long lines so we skipped them. With the cold and rain, there wasn't much of a line for the water ride. This was the best water ride, I have ever been on. It had a really steep drop where we got drenched. Unfortunately, we were really cold afterwards. 

After two days of theme parks, we had enough and drove south to West Palm Beach to hang out with my folks. The weather was still cold. We had a nice dinner on January 3rd at the newest restaurant at Lake Worth Beach. So I have been coming to this area for the last 40 years and it is my home away from home. The beach area hasn't changed much in that time. The only real difference is they reconfigured the beach-front road so that you have to drive through the parking lot. It used to be an actual road. Also, back in the 1970s, there was a rock n' roll radio station next to the beach that ran an ongoing beach party. I miss those days.

The cold and rain brought some crazy high waves and the surfers were out en masse. We had a nice time on January 4th watching all the surfers. We spent most of our time in West Palm Beach/Lake Worth hitting thrift stores. I found a 2006 Super Bowl T-shirt for a buck. I bought a bunch of used CDs and a Rolling Stones vinyl record.

We took to the road on January 5th and had an easy ride home. I was back at work on January 7th. Turns out the weather in West Palm Beach for the week of the 7th was 70s and 80s. Oh well, we still had a nice time.

I would have liked to hit some card shows on the trip but the wife and kids were against it. I also apologize for not visiting with the many people I know down in Florida. I was focused on my family this trip. Next time!

​As for local card shows, I'm setting up at Gonzaga tomorrow (February 11), weather permitting. I'll be in Orland on February 18 then back at the Four Points Sheraton in Milwaukee on March 3. I broke out the '74 baseball binder last weekend at the Four Points Sheraton. I'll have 1978 Topps football tomorrow. Come on out!

December 17, 2017, Civic Center, Orland Park, Illinois

I will title this latest chapter in my health saga as "Meds." My doc has put me on all sorts of meds that are wreaking havoc on my body. I take Lipitor at bedtime for hypertension which makes me speed. I take Levimir for diabetes at bedtime which makes me speed. I take Metformin at bedtime with gives me a terrible stomach ache and diarrhea. The result is a recipe for disaster which came to fruition on the night before the December 17th Orland Park Show.

I was suffering all night due to these meds and did not sleep a wink. I texted Rich at 5 a.m. to let him know I could not make the show. I ended up sleeping all day. I know I was supposed to bring cards for a lot of guys and feel terrible that I could not make the show. Rich was awfully kind. He doesn't seem to want me to pay for my tables but I would still like to do it. I scheduled the show and feel I have a responsibility to be there or at the very least, pay for my tables when I cancelled that morning. As dealers, we have a certain responsibility to promoters, other dealers and our customers. In order for a show to be successful, we must show up when we schedule a show. When things happen, because they do, we must notify the promoter and pay for our tables. Rich lost money because I did not show up. He probably could have sold my tables to someone else if I would have been able to give him more time before cancelling. It is not Rich's fault I cancelled. He still has to pay the same amount to rent the hall. Thus, I hope to be able to make things right and pay for my tables.

So I haven't been to Orland since October. I plan on setting up at the February 18th show. I am going to skip all my meds the night before the show so I don't have the same issues... don't tell my doc!

As I write this blog here on January 24th, I am still having these issues with the meds. I did not sleep much last night and went into work very late. Though, I took the Levimir in the morning which I think I will continue to do. I think I am going to start taking the Lipitor in the morning as well. I think the Lipitor kept me up last night. I have greatly reduced the Metformin even though it is effective in lowering my blood sugar but the side effects are just too much to handle. I am scheduled to see my doc soon and hopefully we can iron these things out.

Anyway, I apologize to all those who were looking for me on December 17th and I am sorry I have been away from Orland for so long. As you know, I added the Orland show last year after a three-year absence. Other than being sick from my meds in December, I am having quite a few scheduling conflicts with the Orland show. My first priorities are my show at the Four Points Sheraton in Milwaukee and the Gonzaga show. The Orland show is scheduled on the same date as Gonzaga in March, so I can't make Orland in March. I might have a conflict in April because I just got into the Ohio Sports Collectors Convention which is one of the best shows in the country. I may have another long Orland absence after February. I'll keep you posted.

I have been working on my 1974 Topps baseball binder. Like the '73 binder, this one is taking a lot of time. I am not setting up at any shows this weekend and hope to make some headway on the binder.

My next show is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Four Points Sheraton (formerly Clarion), 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. As always, I will be giving out two free packs of Sports Cards. Attendees at this show will have their choice between 2016 Panini Donruss Baseball, 2016/17 Panini Donruss Basketball, 2016/16 Panini Donruss Basketball, and 2016 Panini Absolute Football. See you February 3rd!