Fall Football Fun ~ 2015..... rah rah rah - bucs and bulls!

It is fall and for many... that means Football & Hunting season has arrived!

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Cleveland Browns Aug. 29 on the heels of a
loss to the Vikings and creaming the Bengals before ending preseason with a win over Miami.  So the Bucs enter the season with a preseason of 2 - 2.  Hopefully we'll see a "w" posted in the opener against Tennessee! GO BUCS!

The USF Bulls started by having home field advantage in their season opener against Florida A&M on Sept. 5 with a HUGE win!   GO BULLS!!!   This Saturday we get to see the Bulls take on Florida State which is sure to have some good Saturday rivalry talk for all of us locals.

Despite a less than stellar season (for both teams) last year, the bulls and Bucs plan to charge Raymond James Stadium with all the gusto, passion and power their mascots imply.

Almost as popular as the game itself is the forerunner to the kick-off: the tailgate party.  From the picnic basket literally perched on the tailgate of a vehicle to the ever expanding collection of portable tables, canopies, grills, chairs, coolers, banners, music and satellite television systems, tailgating has morphed into a social setting that blends sports, food, friends and fun.

Toby Keith wrote and sang a hit song for one tailgate necessity: red Solo cups.

And along with those cups, you are going to want some:

• Ice and cooler
• Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
• Corn Hole set and bean bags
• Cold drink holders
• USF or Tampa Bay Buc apparel 
• Sunnies (sunglasses, useful in the Sunshine State and fashionable for all night games)
• Sound system
• Grill
• Burgers, brats, dogs + toppings, chips, sides
• Pigs in blankets
• Frisbee/football
• Aspirin
• Bottle opener, cork screw
• Binoculars
• Folding chairs
• Blankets
• Friends 
• Tickets to the game

Tailgating is not confined to parking lots or campus either. Fans tailgate in backyards, on street corners, in sports bars, man caves, neighborhoods and anywhere a few friends gather.  If you are hosting a good-sized tailgate party, you may as well go ahead and set up to rent a dumpster from Bin There Dump That because these folks have "been there" -- they know the kind of trash that can accumulate from tailgaters.  You do not want overflowing trash cans and errant red Solo cups to spill on to your lawn or driveway and roll down the street.

If all your friends are out of town on your tailgate party day, just make friends,  like Toby Keith did, with a red Solo cup.

Red solo cup, you're more than just plastic

More than amazing, you're more than fantastic

And believe me that I'm not the least bit sarcastic

"Red solo cup, you're not just a cup (No, no, God no)

When I look at you and say:

You're my friend, yea (Lifelong)

Thank you for being my friend" 

Save most of your energy for when Rocky the Bull, the Herd of Thunder and the
USF football bull players thunder on to the field for a spectacular afternoon of a uniquely
American sport.  Watch the Buccaneers in their 39th season as they hope to play right to
the Super Bowl, like 12 years ago when they captured the Lombardi Trophy in a 48-21
win over Oakland. in Super Bowl XXXVII. Rah rah rah!

Go Bucs and Bulls!

Estate Clean Out

Cleaning out a loved one's estate can be like a trip from heartache to headache and back. It's an emotional task at an emotional time, and the more organized you are, the smoother the process.  A Will designates financial and property distribution, but a house or condo's contents may not be called out item by item, and it needs to be cleaned out piece by piece. 

An early evaluation can determine how much help is needed. Family members may want to put sticky notes on items they especially want.  For family too far to travel, snapping photos for e-mail lets them see what's there that might be of interest. 

Going through everything is imperative as people stick things like cash in the freezer, an heirloom diamond ring in a vase, stock certificates in a book and so on.  There are many people who can help from a neighborhood teen, church friends, professional organizers and cleaning people, liquidators, appraisers and Bin There Dump That for dumpster rental service. 

Here are few suggestions to keep in mind:

• Change the locks and forward the mail.

• Remove papers like bank statements, insurance policies, deeds, titles and tax returns.

• Enlist trustworthy help to sift through clothes, closets, cupboards and drawers with instructions on setting things out for your review before donation, trash or keep.

• Tackle the home room by room. There's a sense of accomplishment when one room becomes vacant except for furnishings, and that in turn produces encouragement.

• Memories are more important than tangible things, so take lots of photos of a lamp or mirror or chair which holds special meaning to put into a family history book or CD. Scan documents, tickets and small mementos.

• Most clothes, except vintage (prior to 1960s), leather and upscale hold little value. Some thrift shops have free pick up service for unwanted but usable clothes and furniture. 

• Hire an appraiser for antiques, jewelry, coins and other potential valuables. Check the American Society of Appraisers (appraisors.org) membership list; there are more than 100 in Florida with ASA after their names. ASA = Accredited Senior Appraiser. 

• Consider buying a copy of "How to Clean Out Your Parents' Estate in 30 Days or Less, a solution-based guide to emptying the home without losing your mind," by Julie Hall.

Once things are sorted, shipped, removed, placed in the dumpster rental or taken to consignment and thrift stores, a liquidator can clear out all the rest.   Again, go professional -- this is an industry ripe for rip-off.   The American Society of Estate Liquidators offers information on its training and designations.   Some liquidators request payment for the work; others take it for free; and still more pay you if there is significant re-sale value. 

Hire a professional cleaning company to prepare property for sale or rent. 

You can find local resources from afar simply by asking the secretary at the attorney's office (who handles the Will), a Realtor, Chamber of Commerce, friends, neighbors and the good folks at Bin There Dump That.  A reliable company with an excellent reputation only recommends others with the same levels of integrity, compassion and dependability. 

Take breaks all along the way, even if you are on a tight time schedule. Stop for coffee. Walk away for lunch.  Sit on a box and remember something funny.  Embrace the memories and the good times, even if cleaning out an estate is not among them.  With assistance and a positive attitude, you can rise to the occasion with grace.