2025 - Clearwater, FL

This is a bit of a different entry, because it's the first one I'm writing after building this site and sharing it with the boys. And I'll start before the trip to add some context. Mark, Ezra and I were all dialed in and had settled on Clearwater after a lengthy deliberation and lots of back and forth. Ben was on the fence for a while, but then had to bow out for personal reasons. Then, last week Ben made some strange comments on our group text making me think he thought the trip was last weekend. Clarifying that set him in motion and within a day he had a flight secured to join us.

I got in first on Thursday morning which gave me some time to pick up the rental car - a Chevy Blazer EV through Turo (the AirBnB of rental cars). I want to be in the market for an EV in the future, so thought it would be a smart idea to rent one to get comfortable with how they work and privide some context. I met the guy in the Economy Parking Lot (seemed a little bit like a sketchy drug deal) and everything checked out. He gave me a quick primer and I was so distracted by the "EV-ness" of it all I pretty much forgot how to drive and be a normal human. Regardless, he still sent me on my way and I drove around a little bit before having to swing back to get Ezra.

After several loops around the airport, Ezra and Mark were securely procured. We couldn't check into the AirBnB until 4, so we had a little time to stop on the way and buy groceries. We stocked up at a Publix, hit the liquor store across the street, and made it to the place.

Very nice, right on a little inlet with a private dock (slip?) for a small boat, canoe, kayak, etc. Beautiful view, very peaceful with a deck and a nice patio below.

We had little time to gather ourselves before the first games started, so we made our way to "Eddie's Sports Bar" in Dunedin where were able to sit outside and watch Alabama throttle BYU and Florida handle Maryland. I was big on BYU, so the 'Bama barrage from 3 was painful to watch (I think they set a record for 3's taken and made and scored 113).

Ben arrived midway, so we sat for a while so he could eat and then went back to the place for Duke/Arizona and Texas Tech/Arkansas. The Tech game was the most exciting of the day as the Red Raiders seemed to be left for dead, but rallied back to force OT and then won by 2. I think overall, bets were pretty even. We got back to the place and Mark shared a MM-themed basket his friend Leti had put together for us with snacks, tiny liquor bottles, East Side Tiger t-shirts, and more. Very cool. It also included rules for a game we tried to stick to where we penalized each other for any use of the words "work," "email," and stuff like that. I believe it was also Thursday night that I shared this website with the boys. Lots of fun talk of years gone by and possibly a little more clarity on the early years, but I'll have to do some more digging.

Friday started with a hearty Mark's eggs, veggies and Canadian Bacon breakfast extravaganza then we drove to Clearwater Beach. Ezra had to hang back to do some work (Ben called him on the "W" word and got his card in the game ;)), but we wanted to get their early to avoid traffic and get a good spot. Ben went straight to the sand while Mark and I played a set of tennis. Took some time to shake off the rust (I even took an awkward tumble trying to navigate a particularly juicy overhead slam attempt), but ended up playing pretty well - for someone who hasn't really touched a racket in years.

The beach was gorgeous and the weather was perfect. Ezra joined us and we hung for quite a while. Got in the water, tossed a football and frisbee, etc. Then it was lunch at Frenchy's which was perfect. We sat with our feet in the sand. I got a bloody mary and the oceanside food didn't disappoint. Then it was back to the beach for a bit. I napped. Ezra Ubered back and then we packed up.

Ezra was asleep when we got back, so Mark, Ben and I hung out on the covered patio and Mark came up with the genius idea of buying a projector at Target and rigging it up with a computer so we could bbq and watch the basketball right there. So we rallied and found a Target. Mark bbq'ed burgers, chicken and steak while Ben and I tried to figure out the projector/computer connection. Mark found the solution and voila! we had basketball games projected on a large white wall. It was an idyllic setup if only the games had cooperated.

Purdue unfortunately kept things close but lost to Houston by 2 while Tennessee easily handled Kentucky. The big disappointment of the night was Michigan St, who was winning (and covering) by six until Ole Miss hit a last second random, unnecessary, meaningless long distance 3 that somehow sat on the back part of the rim and dropped in. MSU still won by 3, but it soured some significant bets. Meanwhile, Auburn pushed through Michigan without much issue to round out the evening.

Saturday was our day for eBikes. I got up and out earlier than the rest to find an EV charging station. I didn't really need the charge, but wanted to see what the experience was like. Turned out to be very easy and straightforward. I plugged in in a library parking lot, crossed the street and got an iced office, then realized I was next door to the Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training complex. It was quiet and empty, but I took a short walk around the outside anyway to give the car some time to charge. I wrapped that up, found a bagel shop and brought some stuff back for the boys.

We eBiked for a good part of the day mostly along the Pinellas Trail and then over the bridge to Clearwater Beach. Just basically made a loop and headed back to return the bikes. We found another sportsbar, Paddy Wagons, that promised games broadcast outside with sound, so we looked past the fact that it was in a strip mall and food had to be ordered from a restaurant nearby and hunkered in for what seemed like a long night.

Florida struggled a bit with Texas Tech and looked like they were going to be the first #1 seed to lose, but they stormed back (much like they did against UConn :() and won by 5. We had a welcome distraction in that the UConn Women were playing their Sweet Sixteen game against Oklahoma, so we were able to cheer Paige Beuckers (who dropped 40) as the won by 23 and graciously covered the 12 point spread.

We were hoping for an instant classic between 'Bama and Duke, but the Tide forgot how to make 3s and were never in it. Meanwhile, Ben had struck up a conversation with two woman and a guy all of whom seemed to be getting a lot drunker a lot faster than the rest of us. Ben claims it has to do with the fact that he didn't eat anything (a valid excuse), but he was pretty plastered for the drive home. We poured him into his sofa-bed and called it a night.

Sunday was another gorgeous day, so we headed back to Clearwater Beach. Ben headed straight to the sand while the three of us found the outdoor basketball courts and logged another year of games of 21. I suggested the first game be no-contact, no-defense, shoot from where you catch it as way to eeeeease into the more physical games to come. It worked pretty well and prompted a couple of my favorite lines of the weekend, "I really don't think playing defense is worth the ROI for me anymore," and, "Playing defense is like volunteering. I really admire people who do it. I just don't think it's for me." The other three games were really a battle between Ezra and Mark with me feeding off of easy put-backs for my points. I redeemed myself on the tennis court though, with another solid showing against Mark, reminding me that I spent a significant amount of my childhood playing tennis and there was a time when I wasn't half-bad.

Since the games started at 2pm on Sunday it didn't give us much time at the beach, but I did feel like I needed a quick "cold-ish plunge" to soothe my achy muscles. We raced back to the Publix to grab potluck options for lunch and got back to the place in time to watch Houston dominate Tennessee and then Auburn handle Michigan State but not by enough to dampen all of our spirits. Ultimately, all four #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four which should make for some interesting games next weekend.

I really scaled back on betting this time around - not that I'm ever betting the farm. No real reason other than I hate the feeling of placing a sizeable bet and then realizing my pseudo-analysis was for shit less than 3 minutes in. It didn't diminish my enthusiasm, because we generally bet together so outcomes dictate our collective mood regardless. There was also the distraction of the UConn Men's Hockey team playing Penn State for a chance at reaching the Frozen Four, so I was keeping an eye on that, too, but they lost 3-2 in OT.

We hustled out of the house to get to Downtown Dunedin (duhn-EEEdin, right Ben?). Ben had been many times before and was eager to show us around. A very cool little area with restaurants, shops, and a cool brewery (HOB) where we sat for a beer and talked for a while (Ben found another new friend).

We had a nice Mexican dinner at a great place called Casa Tina's - good food, drinks and staff. The conversation turned political, which gets a little heated but in a good way. Just four friends trying to solve the problems of the world over chips and guac.

We got back late and started cleaning up and packing. I walked Ben through some of the finer points of this website and then we said goodbye to Mark (he left first at 5am). In the morning, Ben, Ezra and I finished cleaning out the fridge and putting the place back to form then we headed to the airport together. I dropped the rental in the economy lot and sent the guy a picture of the spot I left in with the keys inside (Floor 2 Aisle 05, if you're interested in a nice Chevy Blazer EV) and we parted ways inside the terminal.

Another solid trip in the books. So tough when we all wish these gathers happened once a month rather than once a year, but with Mark retiring, let's hope there at least one "off-cycle" meeting before we call up the Decision-a-tor for next year!