August 4, 2006, 12:01 am

Paint me black and gold and wrap me in terrible towels -- I'm headed back to Heinz Field to see Big Ben and the boys!

Yesterday's bad day turned damn good when I got home, made a stiff drink and opened the mail to find four Steelers tickets -- two tickets to game one (preseason) and two tickets to game 7 (Nov. 12 vs. the Saints).

I slammed open the screen door and raced out to the pool where hubby was swimming with the girls.

Dan. Dan. Dan. Dan. Dan. (Dan's been swimming to much and is half-deaf from all the water in his ears).

Steelers. Tickets.

We got Steelers tickets!

If you remember back in March, I told you that it was time to send your checks to the Steelers for your chance to win single-game tickets. This is the only way they sell tickets to the public (non season-ticket holders). You don't get to pick what game you want or where your seats are located -- you just send in your money (checks only) & hope for the best. With the ticket prices set at $55 each, I figured we had nothing to lose -- even the nosebleeds are worth $55.

Which is exactly where we'll be sitting -- in the upper level -- row GG.

We joked that we were going to need one of the viewers they have at Dobbin's Landing and Niagara Falls just to see the field. But, really, what does it matter? We're paying for the atmosphere. For the experience.

For the sheer fun of sitting in a stadium full of 65,000 other people painted black-and-gold and twirling terrible towels.