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Super Bowl Sunday is as good a reason as any for a party, and for as long as I can remember, I've taken full advantage of it. Lots of beer and lots of food, and if your team is in the game it's all the better.

If you checked in eagerly to read the latest edition of my "Thoughts" last week, prior to Monday evening, instead of the normal first paragraph of my column on my home page, you saw the following two paragraphs:

If you're here to read my story for the week ending January 24, I thank you for taking the time to check in. I normally write on Sundays, and this particular Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday! A Cheesehead holiday.

I will, however, have an article for the 24th, albeit late. I have granted myself a 24 hour extension on my deadline of 6pm Sunday. Thanks again for checking in, and please check back tomorrow for my latest installment.

Since I normally write this column on Sunday I was faced with a conflict. Even though the game didn't start until after five o'clock in the evening, the party starts much earlier. At first I thought about doing a story similar to last year's prediction and follow-up type piece. Now I'm really glad I didn't. I would have been way off. Then I thought that maybe I should just take the week off and skip it all together, but I want to see how long I can go without missing a week.

And so, with my apologies posted, I donned my Green Bay Packer sweatshirt and was ready for Super Bowl XXXII. And I was not the only one wearing Packer apparel. Julie made little shirts for the cats with "Go Pack" on them. Boo doesn't like to travel -- at least not with us anyway -- but Louie wanted to come along with us to Stepheno's house even though he doesn't really like Stepheno's cat, Mr. T.

Thus far all was going just as planned, no surprises, right on schedule; Julie made tacos, we had plenty of beer, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and we had no doubt that the Packers were going to run all over the Denver Broncos. In fact, we were sure that the game would be so easily won as to render it boring. Stepheno was stoking the fire as the teams were being introduced, and I confidently stated my prediction: "42, 10."

When Green Bay scored on their first drive it was less surprising than the sun rising that day, and even when Denver quickly evened the score I wasn't shocked. They didn't want to make 'em look too bad you know. But then came the unthinkable: the Broncos scored again! 14, 7, Denver, only 5 seconds into the second quarter and my prediction was already out the window. From that point on, until the final play, I was on the edge of my seat. Still 3 points down at half-time, it made for an exciting game, but I was still quite sure the Packers would prevail.

With the score tied at 24 in the fourth quarter, it could have gone either way. Then it happened: the Broncos scored another touchdown! This wasn't supposed to happen. Green Bay was supposed to win this game handily. Shocked, we watched in disbelief as the clock ran down on a futile last drive. Final score: Denver 31, Green Bay 24.

I again donned my Green Bay Packer sweatshirt Tuesday afternoon for the live broadcast of the "Return To Title Town" celebration at Lambeau Field. Despite the numbing loss 35,000 fans turned out at Lambeau field in Green Bay to welcome the team home. Win or lose, Packer fans are the greatest fans in the world.

All I can say is that I enjoyed Super Bowl XXXII more than any other -- it would have been better if the Pack came out on top, though. But, just like President Clinton's approval rating, they won't stay down for long. I'm looking forward to another exciting season this year, and with any luck the Pack will be back at the bowl again next year.