Power Play Engineer

I was just here... where did I go?

2012-02-05T06:24:00.000-06:00

Back from Florida. STILL need to make yet another trip down there. Unfortunately. (Too public a blog to discuss why, but the people who know me know why that is)

Met some nice people this time while down there.

Got some time at the beach in... partially because it was "necessary", especially after I'd done similar in Malaysia.

In about 36 hours, I depart for China. I repacked my bags and instead of one large suitcase, I'm taking a small suitcase and a bag. The small suitcase has my personal stuff in it, the bag has my work stuff in it. The bag will likely be somewhat depleted by the time I come home because some of the stuff will get used while I'm overseas. My new rolling carryon arrived while I was away, and that will serve as my purse and stuff carrier on flights.

Got some shopping done while in Florida. Went to the Hanes outlet and got a bra and underwear (which will go unworn likely until after I move). Then to the Sketchers outlet for a new pair of shoes for work... more or less.

I am thinking that I will get some time at home after this trip...

Although my frequent flyer miles account is certainly happy for me. *wry*

An Exploding Schedule

2012-01-25T07:15:00.001-06:00

So... Florida was 29 December thru 01 January. Nice, short trip.

I am currently in Malaysia... my last night in Malaysia, as I will be leaving tomorrow after 3 weeks to complete a p project that finished this afternoon.

Next Wednesday through Saturday is another trip to Florida. Yes, for the same reason as the last time.

And then on 06 February, I depart for China for another 3 weeks. 3 weeks, not 6 this time.

After that, who knows. I have to start looking for a house.

BUT... things seem to be looking up.

This depressing winter

2012-01-05T10:07:00.000-06:00

I know people who have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I am not one of those people. They get depressed in the winter and need light therapy to help with their mood.

Summer SAD is a different animal.

Summer SAD is mostly due to the heat and the light of summer. This tends to trigger lack of appetite, depression, and the need to hide in dark rooms.

This winter has been warm (we're talking record or near record temperatures) and very sunny. What very little snow we have had has melted away already and there has been ZERO accumulation.

I have Summer SAD. And I've been more than slightly depressed this winter because of the way the weather has been.

I want snow, dammit.

I also want it much colder than it has been.

Climate Change is a Myth you say? BULLSH*T I say.

Siiiiiigh.

2011-12-27T12:10:00.000-06:00

Female.

Well, at least this means I'll have *less* of a chance of having one during my trip to Malaysia.

And hopefully the flow will be light by the time I have to leave for Florida at the end of the week.

Too good to Last

2011-12-20T21:32:00.000-06:00

Well, it's a good thing I have a passport with extra pages.

I leave for Malaysia in three weeks with a return date near the end of January.

Then I go back to China for another three week trip.

I think I will bring a big project and a little project and lots of notebook room.

Packing for Malaysia is going to be interesting considering they are technically Southern Hemisphere, AND transit time numbers between 35 and 45 hours depending on what flights are taken. So... it will be summer there.

I am considering what to pack, but I'm also figuring out that I will definitely be over the basic miles and such for the frequent flier plans, but hey... whatever does the job.

It's December Already?!

2011-12-08T05:58:00.000-06:00

Um... yeah, it has been a busy couple of months.

Taiwan and China for 6 weeks, Taiwan for a bit of a break and to adjust to the time and then 10 different work sites in China for a client at work.

Came home 2 days early because the work was done... then went to Madison for that weekend. The following weekend was Thanksgiving, and I went to Dallas with T- to see the Stars and her favourite player play. Last week was a trip to Rockford to see the IceHogs play... and this weekend may just be a quiet one at home.

The plan for Christmas weekend is to go to Madison...

A trip is planned for Florida at the end of the year. Everything is prepared. All that is left is to actually GO on the trip.

Jet lag seems to have been easier this time around, but the time of the year might have had something to do with it.

Fall is almost here!

2011-09-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

I am so glad to be putting summer behind me.

I've got a long business trip coming up. And I'm grateful to have a roommate and everything else.

I'm not exactly looking forward to packing but hey...

Busy

2011-08-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

The new job is working pretty well.

I actually get to work from home sometimes.

Tired of the hot and sometimes humid.

The attack on teachers

2011-08-04T08:54:00.000-05:00

From being referred to as "babysitters", to being derided and forced to "teach to a standardized test"...

Being a teacher is NOT easy. I am not one, but I have worked with teachers before. In high school, I ran out of subjects to be able to learn, so I was a teacher's aide for 3 semesters: once for the teacher who taught German, once for my Grade 10 English teacher, and once for my Honors US History teacher.

None of it could have been considered "busy work". It was all stuff that needed to be done and was stuff that then the teacher I was aiding did not have to do themselves. Usually it was running copies or making sure the bulletin board in the classroom was in order, or something of the like.

Anyone who claims that teachers have "cushy jobs"... sure, they get summers off unless they teach summer school, but all of the teachers that I know have said the same thing: they don't get paid in the summer. Sure, it may LOOK like they only have to be at school for "school hours", but that is not nearly enough time to grade papers, write exams, plan lessons, plus try to keep the attention of all the students in the classes, AND likely have to deal with parents who think their kid is a little angel and that the teachers and school system aren't doing enough for them. Not to mention needing to keep up with the education standards and also Continuing Education for themselves AND avoiding burnout.

Hats off to you, Matt Damon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGlf8J2PGhI&feature=player_embedded

One door closes...

2011-07-21T09:37:00.002-05:00

...and another opens.

Yes, I think people can figure out what that means.

On the day of my last post, I got laid off from the job I'd had for almost 4 years.

I am currently on unemployment, and that is not making me at all happy.

However, in the meantime I have aggressively been looking for work.

I had an interview on July 1 that eventually turned into a job offer that I accepted and my start date is July 25.

Summer...

2011-06-22T09:33:00.000-05:00

Haircut yesterday.

I think she took about 3 inches off. Not that anyone can tell right away.

I'm good with that, given that I had also wanted to shave my head. Yes. All of it off. But I figured I'd probably regret it, so I didn't.

Found out my hair stylist likes Winnie the Pooh, so I'm going to finish the Pooh I have in the works for her and give it to her. It's dark brown, so I think I'll make the shirt up in white or creme...

And now to let my hair grow out over the summer again.

Get me out of here!

2011-06-14T14:20:00.000-05:00

There is news that a certain disgraced former Speaker of the US House of Representatives will be in the immediate general area this coming Saturday.

Thanks to my current place of residence, there are going to be a lot of POTUS hopefuls in the area between now and January.

Unfortunately, my chosen refuge is getting worse as well. My home state has turned into FitzWalkerStan...

Tracking

2011-06-02T17:14:00.001-05:00

Okay, Started yesterday - or maybe the day before...

I hate being female.

Just Playing Around

2011-05-31T08:46:00.000-05:00

So...

My birthday (same day as Judgment Day supposedly) went by uneventfully. Got a small cadre of presents and it was very appreciated. =D

F Troop was cancelled... until June at the earliest. And I am left contemplating USAHockey camp in August.

A friend's 2 year old had his party on Sunday and I made a sweater and hat for him. It was beyond adorable. Stonewash denim blue cotton yarn with red buttons in the shape of aeroplanes.

Work and Play

2011-05-18T00:08:00.000-05:00

F Troop is nothing more than a really glorified hockey practice.

I'm having fun, though. And it IS good exercise.

Unfortunately, summer session looks to be really light (9 people, and Joe said they needed 15 to keep it going) and likely will end up cancelled.

Work's also been really light lately.

I'm hoping work picks up soon, otherwise I fear for the way things will go.

Curiosity

2011-05-11T08:35:00.000-05:00

Why do I buy blank notebooks?

Curiosity, largely...

Notebook Stories Review of the X17 notebook

The notebook sounds really neat.

Although I continue to wonder whether I will end up doing with that notebook that I do with the other notebooks I buy... be afraid to ruin it. *wry*

ugh. tracking

2011-05-06T17:50:00.002-05:00

female. started this morning.

this feels like a heavy one.

Really now?

2011-05-02T12:43:00.000-05:00

Is it right to put the blame on one person for a team losing when said person was one of the people doing the scoring? And that, by all accounts, the person scoring was one of the FEW people who played well?

If someone had 8 years to find someone "dead or alive" and didn't... and someone else had 2.5 years and succeeded... who's the one who got the job done?

If a "Certification of Live Birth" or "Certificate of Live Birth" is not the same as a "Birth Certificate", kindly explain to me the difference between "Birth Date" and "Date of Birth" or "Birth place" and "Location of Birth".

Why is Mr. Trump "proud" of getting Mr. Obama to release the long form birth certificate when Mr. Obama had to go and file for an exemption - thereby giving the appearance that the laws do not apply to him when it is the extreme pressure of some groups forcing the issue by saying "he's hiding it!" - to get a certified copy AND that the "Certificate of Live Birth" had actually be released during the last Presidential Campaign.

Why do people act like public figures - including professional athletes - have no feelings or are objects rather than humans?

New thing... same as the old thing...

2011-04-18T10:03:00.002-05:00

except in a new place.

I just applied for something with the exact same job description that I'm doing now.

Except that it's in Madison.

Political, for just a moment...

2011-04-13T09:04:00.000-05:00

Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes? Yeah, me neither.

Re-post from a friend. Pass it on if you’re so inclined.

Just a note for my records.

2011-04-08T13:41:00.002-05:00

Female. Since yesterday.

Very mild this month. Almost like all I'm doing is spotting.

Wonder if my biological clock is about to stop.

Eh.. no biggie.

Stuff Happens

2011-04-04T11:22:00.000-05:00

Trying to figure out the plans for the next month and a half.

Why?

My 38th birthday is coming.

I'm also making plans for my 40th birthday in 2 years.

Out of Town travel

2011-03-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

Am having a busy month.

I was out of town for work on the 18th (Madison, WI), and then there is upcoming travel for fun, and then for work again in a few weeks.

Doing a lot of work with and for Alliant Energy.

The only good thing about travelling out of town for work is that time and mileage (especially if I'm driving) are paid for.

Daylight Saving Time... isn't

2011-03-16T13:39:00.000-05:00

So I'm going to work in the dark again. Why? Well, they moved the time change up and so I'm getting up before sunrise. Bleh.

I never went home in the dark, so that isn't an issue.

I want the time change put back to where it was: last Sunday in April, first Sunday in November. None of this mid-March to mid-November crap.

I have Summer SAD. It is real and it does affect people.

I don't need more daylight.

Editing NaNoWriMo 2003

2011-03-11T15:14:00.000-06:00

I have not finished the novel that I wrote in November 2003.

Up until the start of this week, it was in far too many little pieces without a coherent order.

This week, I went and put things in a semblance of order, and voila... the plot clarified itself in my head.

Of course, it helped that I had been scribbling out an outline of what it was supposed to be. And, so, the files have been cleaned up.

I have tried to time my progress in NaNoEdMo, but I'm not sure what qualifies as editing and what qualifies as filling holes the size of Mac Trucks.

Smocking stripes on hockey jerseys...

2011-03-02T07:23:00.001-06:00

I don't know about anyone else, but I really wish the pro hockey teams that have smocking stripes on their jerseys would TAKE THEM OFF.

I don't like them on the jerseys I can think of that have them...

Nashville
Florida
Edmonton
Colorado

If they want to make the jerseys look longer, they should have the stripes along the sides or whatever. I think I object to the fact that the smocking stripes start at the neck and go down from there. It's distracting.

Issues

2011-03-01T12:49:00.000-06:00

Abandonment

Feeling like a failure if something I did or said caused someone else to either be upset or irritated.

Lack of trust

F Troop and a trip to Columbus, OH

2011-02-14T11:54:00.000-06:00

F-Troop (think practice) has started up again, 8 week session this time instead of the 4 that they had last time.

I'm getting the rust off.

I'm going to get into the adult hockey league one way or the other.

+++++

Still not dealing particularly well with The Trade.

I've picked up NHLGameCenterLive, though... so I've seen the 2 games where he was playing. His game has picked back up and resembles the type of play he had while in Rockford.

And I'm planning a trip to Columbus.

Ohhh boy.

Opinions are like anuses...

2011-02-11T11:36:00.000-06:00

... Everyone's got one (or more than one in the case of opinions...)

In lieu of the trade that I'm not dealing with at all well, my Twitter account is no more. After being told off by one person I'd thought was a friend (but only after I'd lashed out at her, I admit), and having someone ELSE I'd thought was a friend "bask in the reflected glory" of said telling off...

It's been deleted.

+++++

My gut level feeling re: the trade...

The Blackhawks will end up regretting the trade. I have seen suggestions that Frolik lacked a certain... intensity, shall we say, regarding work ethic. He had previously been a 20 goal scorer, but wasn't producing that now, and had just recently been demoted.

In case anyone wonders whether I'm biased? Sure, I admit that I am, but I also had bad feelings about the McCabe/Van Ryn trade, and the Leafs signing Kessel.

Just take that as you will.

Opening up Hockey, eh?

2011-02-11T10:59:00.000-06:00

1 - how do you open up hockey? Support adult rec league programs. Without those, the kids won't be as interested.

2 - drop the checking penalty from the womens game. Yes, I said it. Most of the women grow up playing with the boys anyway. And the penalty? Slows the game down.

3 - Do not market those pink jerseys as much. And open up the sizing because not all women are stick figures.

Note: These are all strictly my opinion.

Twitter Deleted

2011-02-10T18:23:00.002-06:00

Just that.

I was being stupid about a trade I'm not coping with.

And one person "told me off" and another "basked in the reflected glory".

So...

This is me... still mad about Saturday

2010-10-19T12:22:00.001-05:00

What happened on Saturday?

I went to Chicago to see the Blackhawks play the Buffalo Sabres.

I was also looking forward to seeing my favourite player play.

Joel Quenneville, though, had other ideas. My favourite player was one of two Blackhawks scratched that night. The other one being Jordan Hendry.

He was out in warmups and there was this odd... clingyness I felt from said player.

Instead, I was "treated" to a team that played pretty much asleep through the first 2 periods, except for the fourth line. (Fourth in the Depth Charts... First in our Hearts) The Fourth Line also looked a little sluggish, though... seeing as it consisted of Viktor Stalberg, John Scott, and Jake Dowell that night. Dowell did well, but the other two just sort of dragged the line down. IMO anyway.

I admit that I left before the third period started, but the game just wasn't fun. Even with the crazy come-from-behind win they had.

Ah, Rockford...

2010-10-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

Last night's home opener for the Rockford IceHogs was... rather sad and bittersweet.

The stat sheet from last night -
No Name G A +/- Sh PIM
G 33 H. Toivonen 0 0 0 0 0
G 35 A. Richards 0 0 0 0 0
D 4 R. Stanton 0 1 -2 1 0
D 5 J. Cullimore 0 0 +1 0 0
C 7 E. Brophey 0 0 0 1 0
D 9 S. Lalonde 0 0 +1 1 0
D 10 B. Connelly 0 1 -2 3 0
LW 12 K. Beach 1 0 -2 4 0
LW 14 K. Hagel 0 1 +1 0 7
D 15 W. Brookbank 0 0 0 0 5
C 16 R. Potulny 0 0 0 2 0
C 18 B. Bollig 1 0 +1 5 0
LW 19 J. Morin 0 0 0 0 0
RW 21 B. Smith 0 0 -2 0 0
C 22 J. Taffe 0 0 0 3 0
RW 25 C. DiDomenico 0 0 -2 0 0
RW 26 I. Makarov 0 0 0 2 2
C 32 P. LeBlanc 0 1 +1 0 0
D 34 I. Vishnevskiy 0 0 0 3 0
LW 37 R. Klinkhammer 0 0 0 0 2

Of the team, there were not many left from the 2009-2010 season. The ones remaining from last season were:

On roster for full season:
Brian Connelly
Evan Brophey
Rob Klinkhammmer

Partial season:
Simon Denis-Pepin - spent time in Toledo, did not play last night
Jonathan Carlsson - spent time in Toledo, did not play last night
Alec Richards - called up from Toledo when Crawford was injured
Jassen Cullimore - signed mid-season
Kyle Hagel - PTO... played a few games
Hannu Toivonen - traded for Joe Fallon at deadline

End of season additions - from Junior or College:
Kyle Beach
Brandon Bollig
Ben Smith
Shawn Lalonde
Ryan Stanton

Apparently, yesterday afternoon, the announcement was made that Garnet Exelby was signed to a PTO in Rockford... and therefore last night he was labeled as a "scratch"...

Rockford lost the game last night, 5-2. Kyle Beach was on the ice for 3 of Manitoba's goals, and his own (of course). I am, unfortunately, unimpressed by his playing ability/style.

It's October!

2010-10-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

Hockey season starts today. The Wild and Hurricanes are playing in Helsinki right now.

The Chicago Blackhawks are the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

It looks to be getting warm this weekend and then the temperatures will start heading toward the cold of winter. I am looking forward to it.

As for the Toronto Maple Leafs... there seems to be a lot of optimism that the team will make the playoffs. I will admit to being jaded because they've been saying that since the lockout and they haven't made it yet. Not to mention they still have Phil Kessel. I will admit to hoping the Leafs DO play well... but I don't want Phil Kessel anywhere near the Cup.

Rockford opens at home this Saturday. They sent a player I'd been hoping to be able to watch to their ECHL affiliate. And, they have a player the Blackhawks sent down... and the player's attitude is not something I particularly care for. Not to mention Cullimore and Potulny have been sent down to them as well.

Atlanta

2010-09-27T09:42:00.000-05:00

Airline tickets booked
Hotel booked
Rental car booked
hockey tickets bought

Itinerary for Atlanta Trip:

Departure from MLI at 4pm 05 November 2010

The next day the only thing scheduled is the hockey game.

The day after is the return flight.

Weirdness catching up with me, I guess

2010-09-23T17:06:00.000-05:00

Met Jerry and Susan at the SnB last night. A new Susan, not the crazy woman in charge of the whole thing. ;)

Susan is local. Jerry... is from Southern California. Yes, I know.

According to his older blog, he's an aerospace engineer. But he moved locally for work. Sort of like I did. But I have never met him. Not that I'm all that surprised given how vast an area SoCal is.

I brought my Cal Poly thermal mug from 1992, and the first thing he asked was "San Luis Obispo or Pomona?". San Luis Obispo. But it was still very weird.

Now I'm wondering whether there is going to be a link up somewhere down the line, as in: he knows someone that knows someone that knows me... all in SoCal.

"The Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated"

2010-09-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

Pat Burns was reported to have died this morning.

CTV Ottawa broke the story. It spread like wildfire on Twitter.

I admit to being one of the people who RT(retweeted) it.

I am ashamed and embarrassed to say I didn't verify first.

TSN's Bob McKenzie forwarded a message from Burns directly saying that they had him dead since June, but he's still around and to set the record straight...

Fight on, Mr. Burns.

Up Next... HOCKEY!

2010-09-15T12:43:00.000-05:00

Chicago Blackhawks Training camp Festival is this coming Saturday.

Doors open at 8am, and things run from then until 2pm.

I suspect I will be in the seat I find at United Center for 6 hours. Well, maybe with bathroom breaks and such, but even still.

I am so excited, I'm almost beside myself.

Rockford Ice Hogs home opener is October 9. I still need to get tickets, but that will be done. Yes, it will.

Blah Blah Blah

2010-09-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

1 - Put Lenovo R61E laptop on eBay. Not really being used and decided that having 2 laptops was a little redundant. 10 days or Buy It Now... Here's hoping.

2 - Looking likely that the Atlanta trip might be the only one that gets taken. Of course I still have to buy the darned tickets.

3 - Ice Hogs tickets went on sale Tuesday. Need to buy for home opener if nothing else.

4 - Wisconsin Sheep and Wool this weekend, Blackhawks Training Camp next.

5 - Vacation... I wish.

changeover

2010-08-31T10:55:00.000-05:00

earphone change over - 31 August 2010

Sony earbuds from a different pair...

This is to help me keep track of how long they last.

Hockey Planning Commission...

2010-08-30T12:51:00.000-05:00

Initial plans:
NHL -
2 Blackhawks Home games - Buffalo and Pittsburgh
3 Away games - Atlanta, Anaheim, Los Angeles

AHL -
Rockford vs.... - mostly at home in Rockford
Home Opener - Manitoba
Chicago
Milwaukee
Abbotsford
Toronto - 07 January 2011
Oklahoma City
Grand Rapids
Lake Erie

Right now, the NHL plans are down to Buffalo and Atlanta. The rest of it fell through due to cost.

The AHL, though... is still all a go.

TicketB*stard strikes again.

2010-08-17T05:45:00.000-05:00

So... the Blackhawks put their single-game tickets on sale yesterday at 10am. And as far as I could see, a lot of fans were furious. I was not so much furious as severely annoyed.

It's not that I objected to the tickets were so quickly sold out. They won the Stanley Cup last season, so, yeah, the tickets were likely going to be at a premium. It is the fact that I could ALMOST IMMEDIATELY go onto StubHub and find that there were PLENTY of tickets sold at a seriously inflated price (almost $90 for SRO seats?!)...

I was at the ticketmaster site and was 'in line' at 10am when I tried to pick my tickets, watching as the 'wait time' went from 2 minutes, up to 8 minutes, and then VERY SLOWLY ticked back down to 2 minutes and stayed there for at least 2 more minutes before coming up with the 'no tickets matched your request' screen.

I did buy some tickets from StubHub, but they only had a slight markup - likely because it is for a game against the Sabres - instead of the aforementioned almost $90 for SRO seats against the Penguins.

And as for those people who never saw a live game prior to 2008... those that some people referred to as 'bandwagoners'... I was not living in the area prior to the 2007-08 season, and as it is now I have a 3 hour drive (as compared to a 4 hour flight prior to that) so I have to plan accordingly. I have only been to 1 game a season since moving closer, and last season's game was a PREseason game.

I do remember Daze, and the A-B-C line... and when the big names on the team were Chelios, Roenick, and Amonte.

Sigh.

Maybe I'll look for tickets for the Pens game on Ticket Exchange later, but I suspect that the Sabres game on October 16 will be the only home game I get to this season.

Schedules, Hang Time, and Game-worn jerseys...

2010-08-11T11:35:00.000-05:00

1 - The AHL schedule has an ETA of August 23. Why? Because they need to finish putting it together (1200 magnets?!!!!!! 30 teams X 80 games = lots of planning) and then it needs to be approved.

Rockford Ice Hogs games this coming season are definite. The main question is: when.

Suspecting Chicago and Milwaukee will get lots again. Plus the Marlies.

2 - The Chicago Blackhawks will get at least one home game this season. When is also an issue. Away games look to be Thanksgiving weekend in Los Angeles and Anaheim, and November 6 in Atlanta (a 2 day weekend trip).

3 - Training Camp Festival tickets procured. Hang time with mah buds will commence, I am sure. =D

4 - Revision to information learned: Nice enough person, terrible as an SO, though...

5 - Well... I paid $300 for player sweat. ;) Gonna leave it for others to determine WHICH player... (those who know me will know immediately)

Life Notes

2010-08-08T15:40:00.000-05:00

Just back from a week long trip to China. Just got back yesterday, actually. No coffee for me for a while because that led into insomnia.

Anyway...

Waiting for the AHL schedule to come out so that I can start planning trips to Rockford.

Found out a few things that don't make me happy about someone, though they are a nice enough person otherwise...

Having slept till 2... now to look for food. I think.

Summer blahs.

2010-07-20T15:06:00.000-05:00

I can't wait for snow.

I mean it.

This is getting ridiculous.

Planning:
China trip - end of July
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Fest - Mid-August
Wisconsin Sheep and Wool - early September
Blackhawks Training Camp Festival - mid-September
Red Wings at Blackhawks - 25 September (I think)

My favourite players have new contracts... one of them is making around league minimum...

And other players I like have ended up on other teams...

Hoping for good things for Andy Bohmbach, though.

A thought...

2010-07-02T07:32:00.000-05:00

Am listening to "New Normal" from RadioLab...

It's the segment on Stu Rasmussen... mayor of Silverton, OR.

He prefers to dress as a woman, and has breast implants, long hair, etc...

But...!

He has had a girlfriend for 36 years.

And it seems that he prefers women. And there has not been a sex change operation.

So calling him a "faggot" would be incorrect. IMO anyway. Because it seems he still identifies as male and, as previously mentioned, still prefers women.

Which means he is NOT a homosexual. He's "just Stu"... although the cross dressing is definitely a different aspect of things.

"Transgender" is appropriate, though. At least according to the definitions I've seen of the word.

Mish Mash

2010-06-26T08:43:00.000-05:00

I am continuing to be entertained by the Ducks pick (29th overall) Emerson Etem. He is from Long Beach, CA, and it was apparent when he opened his mouth and was all "fer shure" for a majority of his answers.

I have acquired yet another blank notebook. And at this point I need to start using some of the other ones that I've got seeing as I'm amassing quite a collection.

Finished a crochet filet shawl that I had been working on. It took me a work of focussed work to do it. But I love it anyway. I need to take pictures of it.

I think I need to determine another shawl to make for July. I don't know what to do yet.

I need to go back to spinning some as well.

What I've been up to

2010-06-14T23:40:00.000-05:00

YAY Chicago Blackhawks are THE 2010 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!

And 2 of my favourite players on the team were members of the reserve squad... and were included in the celebrations! <3 them! <3 that team so damn hard.

Also Yay for the Hershey Bears repeating as Calder Cup champions for the second year running.

I did not like the Texas Stars, so was happy to see Hershey win again.

Working on a crochet filet shawl that is turning out REALLY nicely. I should be finished with it by the end of the week.

News on the other shawl (green, jersey stripes, with a hooded scarf) is that it is done too.

So.. I might be going on another shawl hiatus. At least until the end of the month again.

Let's Get Dangerous...

2010-06-03T08:13:00.000-05:00

Watched what amounts to the pilot ep of Darkwing Duck last night.

Thanks to a birthday present, I now have the first 27 episodes of the show.

If I keep in mind that it's a cartoon, meant to be entertaining, I can get past the fact that Gosslin is the smartest character in the show. =D

The Whole Enchilada...

2010-05-27T07:57:00.000-05:00

AHL - Calder Cup Final

Hershey vs. Texas... starts in a week.
No, I don't know why.

NHL - Stanley Cup Final

Chicago vs. Philadelphia - Starts Saturday.

Professional Hockey - Conference Finals

2010-05-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

AHL -

East -
Manchester v. Hershey (tied 2-2 in series now)
Both teams have 1 member of the 2005-06 Badger Championship team

West -
Texas v. Hamilton
Only rooting for Texas due to Hamilton being Montreal's AHL...

NHL -

East -
Montreal v. Philadelphia
In a series I wish would end in a meteor shower.

Reasons I don't like Montreal: Jacques Martin, I'm a Leafs fan
Reasons I don't like Philadelphia: Chris Pronger, Ray Emery

West -
Chicago v. San Jose
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm oh boy. each team has a member of the 2005-06 Badger team.
Chicago has 2 more as "Black Aces"... (one of whom has a birthday today.......)
But Chicago also has Marian Hossa. (UGH)
And San Jose has Dany Heatley...whom I do like.

Startitis

2010-05-12T17:49:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this year was the goal to make 10 shawls this year.

I'm at 6 shawls already and it isn't even June.

So... I'm currently on a shawl hiatus.

Yes, really.

I am making an afghan stitch bag and a felted bag, and I just finished a cloche that I made out of double-stranded yarn in 2 different colours.

Depending on how things go, I might pick up shawls again, but it might be so that I can get something done for a wedding.

I need to get working on other stuff or run the risk of burning out on shawls.

So... hiatus.

NHL and AHL playoffs...

2010-05-03T14:36:00.000-05:00

NHL -
Eastern -
Pittsburgh v Montreal
Boston v. Philadelphia

Western -
San Jose v Detroit
Chicago v Vancouver

AHL -
Eastern -
Hershey - already won - they beat Albany 4-0
Manchester v Worcester

Western -
Abbotsford v Hamilton
Chicago v Texas

Putting myself out there... the teams I listed 1st are the ones I want to win the series...

Suspension for stupidity...

2010-04-26T10:08:00.000-05:00

Y'know, if the NHL suspended players for violently abject stupidity, Marian Hossa would be a repeat offender.

First time I called for a suspension due to stupidity was March 2000, when Hossa highsticked (golf swing!) Bryan Berard and essentially blinded him when the stickblade struck Berard's eye.

Fast forward to April 2010... the boarding incident on Hamhuis...

IMO he should have gotten suspended.

Way to try getting off my sh-tlist, Hossa.

Sheesh.

And, no, the gamewinning goal that game does not count.

Things...

2010-04-22T08:06:00.000-05:00

So in the last month or so, 4 people I know have had birthdays, plus one today.

My mother and step-father have had their wedding anniversary (might have been yesterday... I forget, but it's not important to me anyway)...

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies both failed to make the playoffs...

And the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford Ice Hogs both look like they are about to fail out of the playoffs in a rather spectacular fashion. SIGH. (one team is down 2-1, the other 3-0...

The Wisconsin Badgers lost to Boston College in the Frozen Four finals... in what was technically a rematch from 2006 that the Badgers won... technically because there was only ONE player from the 2006 team remaining... but such is college hockey.

Geoffrion and Davies have already moved on... no word on Bohmbach, John Mitchell-the-taller, or Bendickson... although Davies' team got eliminated last night...

Spin the old fashioned way

2010-04-15T14:08:00.000-05:00

Haven't really been feeling the love for knitting for a while.

Crochet either, more recently.

So... I have picked up the drop spindles again, and it seems I have improved in the time I let things go.

The newer stuff is finer, more even, and will likely ply well.

Plying should be interesting, but I think I need more spun up stuff first.

Ahhh... Tax Day.

2010-04-15T12:53:00.001-05:00

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/10-inconvenient-truths-for-tax-day

Someone is starting their second decade of life...

2010-04-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

My brother officially turns 20 today.

I don't know whether to be happy or sad...

Or tell the area he lives in that he will be 21 in a year's time. *wry*

"Little Brother! Little Bro- There you are! You're such a good boy, aren't you!" - From Disney's "Mulan".

The above quote is also what I used to do to him regularly when he was a teenager. He HATED it. =D

His response was usually to glare at me and ask "Do I look like a dog?"

=D

Seasonal Affective Disorder - Summer variant

2010-04-07T12:45:00.000-05:00

One of my friends made an observation yesterday that I intend to follow up on.

It goes back to the fact that every time DST starts (no matter when that is), I seem to have trouble beyond the initial week or so of adjusting. My own thoughts were that it felt like being jetlagged for a week without going anywhere.

But then I got to thinking... (yeah, I know, dangerous move there) that for years the way I felt seemed to start getting bad RIGHT when daylight savings time would start and not really change until DST ended. It seems to happen every year without fail.

So... I need to get checked for Seasonal Affective Disorder - Summer variant. People claim it's rare, but I wonder how rare it actually is.

Treatment is also listed as "not very simple"... so I have no clue what to do now.

Maybe it's just me...

2010-03-23T09:11:00.000-05:00

I don't understand the total hate on Crosby...

Last I checked, he didn't play dirty, nor does he start playing dirty every time he has a shot on goal that is denied, nor has he injured anyone, nor has he given a non-apology apology.

Yet ALL of those things listed are the reasons I cannot stand Ovechkin. I have seen EVERY one of those things happen.

"Passion" my fat ass.

Is it "passion" to push someone into the boards JUST because they have the puck and you want it? (To everyone who said "Campbell lost an edge and was falling anyway!" Umm... he wouldn't have fallen WITHOUT HELP.)

Seabrook hits Perry, then Wisniewski hits Seabrook...

2010-03-18T06:20:00.001-05:00

Saw the footage.

Sorry, Seebs. As much as I like you, when you hit him, you hit Corey Perry in the head. Which was a dangerous move. And I think you should have gotten a penalty (at least) for it.

That said...

EXCUSE ME, James Wisniewski... YOU RAISED YOUR ELBOW. Yes, you were standing up for your teammate (Perry) but that does not call for you to raise your elbow when you were hitting Seabrook, possibly(likely) giving him a concussion and take him out of the game.

I have NO WORDS for what was said by the Ducks TV announcers, however. They were asking if Seabrook was "selling" the hit.

Disgusting.

And, in keeping consistency... both of them deserve at least a game suspension.

Hmm

2010-03-16T17:34:00.000-05:00

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=521581

Ovechkin sorry for Campbell hit
Tuesday, 03.16.2010 / 1:17 PM / News
NHL.com

Washington Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin, serving a two-game suspension for a hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell Sunday, issued the following statement Tuesday.

"I am very sorry that Brian was injured and I hope he is able to return to his team soon. NHL hockey is a physical game. We all play hard every time we are on the ice and have battles each shift in every game we play so we can do our jobs and win. As players we must accept responsibility for our actions and I am no different but I did not intend to injure Brian and that is why I was disappointed with the NHL's decision yesterday. Every time I have the honor to play for my team, I will continue to do what I have done since I was taught to play. I will play hard, play with passion and play with respect for my teammates, opponents and fans. I look forward to returning to my team and doing everything I can to be the best player I can be."

+++++

Note to Ovechkin: What you got was "2 games for stupidity", because that push which you readily ADMIT to *WAS* stupid.

Be disappointed all you want. But don't come back, calculate how many games it will take to get rid of this suspension and not get an automatic 1-game with your next misconduct (Statute of limitations was 41 games, he was playing in Game 42 since...) and then get another misconduct.

I have been calling for a minimum "automatic 1 or 2 games for stupidity" when one player injures another (regardless of intent) since 2000. Anyone who wants to take me on with this... I will point you exactly where it started: Hossa's high sticking of Bryan Berard, which essentially cost Berard vision in 1 eye. Yes, Hossa's apologised. I am only NOW seeing changes in his play, though. 10 years after the fact.

Hits...

2010-03-15T13:44:00.003-05:00

Suspension worthy, just from this season:

1 - Johnny Boychuck's hit on Matt Stajan - Result: Stajan bleeding on the ice, bad cut under the eye. No penalty on Boychuk. No suspension either.

2 - Willie Mitchell's hit on Jonathan Toews - Result: Toews out for a few weeks WITH A CONCUSSION. Nada on Mitchell.

3 - Matt Cooke's hit on Marc Savard - Result: Grade 2 Concussion for Savard. Thus far, nothing on Cooke, although he SHOULD have been suspended.

4 - Alexander Ovechkin's hit on Brian Campbell - Result: Campbell out for remainder of season with broken ribs and clavicle. Ovechkin got a major for boarding and a game misconduct, his 3rd this season. No suspension yet. (ETA: supposedly Ovechkin out for 2 games, although I doubt that will stop him from doing it again)

5 - Steve Downie's hit on Sidney Crosby - Result: I think Crosby's injured. Downie not to be suspended.

6 - Martin St. Pierre's hit on Scott Nichol - Result: Nichol out, LaPierre suspended for 4 games. The only one that actually GOT the suspension... and I don't like either player.

7 - Almost forgot... Mike Richards' hit on David Booth. Guess who wasn't suspended, and guess who was out 45 games with a concussion? Yeah.

SHEESH.

Rambling Rose...

2010-03-15T12:55:00.000-05:00

1 - Treating Brian Campbell's injury like it was NOT the fault of Alexander Ovechkin is like saying Marc Savard's concussion is not the fault of Matt Cooke OR that Bryan Berard's eye injury (permanently near-legally blind in one eye as a result) is NOT the fault of Marian Hossa. Treating each of those injuries as though it is the fault of the person INJURED is not right either. It just ISN'T true.

2 - Why people ADORE the warmer weather, hear that it's been consistently warmer recently (last few years, actually) and STILL deny climate change... beyond me.

3 - Still jetlagged. Slept all damn weekend too.

4 - Daylight Savings Time can go hang itself on a tree and stay there. I hate it.

5 - Want to play hockey. At this point, though, I don't know if that's even possible locally anymore. SIGH.

Jetlag and DST start

2010-03-09T12:32:00.000-06:00

Well... I'm mildly jetlagged at this point, but I think a 14 hour flight plus being in a timezone 14 hours different will do that to a person.

Been to Mainland China and back already. (and boy are my arms tired! ;) )

Spring is on the way, and Daylight Savings Time starts this coming Sunday.

I do not like the start of DST... but what else can a person do, yeah?

Getting through this should be interesting, I think.

Thoughts on Homosexuality, Fundamentalist Christians, and the Fall of the Roman Empire

2010-02-01T09:58:00.000-06:00

Simple, really...

From histories on the Roman Empire, there was the undercurrent of the fact that homosexuality was being more and more widely accepted, even as the Roman Empire fell.

I wonder, therefore, whether the current virulent anti-homosexual rhetoric is based on the point of view that it was the acceptance of homosexuality which caused the downfall of the Roman Empire. Therefore, western civilisation (more specifically the United States of America) can be prevented from "falling" if the stance with regard to homosexuality is overwhelmingly negative. At least that is the point of view of the fundamentalist Christians and others.

Just a thought, anyway.

The end of rec league hockey for the adults in the QCA?

2010-01-27T10:38:00.002-06:00

The Quad City Sports Center is losing money. To the point where the City of Davenport is going to take it over in April. Has the facility been run properly? Well, no. But the plans put out are troubling.

They have "committed" to keep kids hockey (from One Goal through high school House Leagues...) but there is no word on any of the adult leagues. There is also talk about getting rid of at least one of the high school teams. Right now there are the QC Ice Eagles and the QC Blues at the very least. The sled hockey program is also in danger.

What is troubling is that they intend to permanently close down the second ice sheet in order to put in an indoor soccer field.

When there are 4 adult hockey leagues (Over 30, A/B league, C/D league, Open League) ALL of whom are full. Some of the teams are OVER full. From what I can tell, each of them has at least 4 (6-8 in some cases) teams and they tend to play at about the same time in their respective leagues. There are people who play in more than one league. The word is that they're going to schedule the adult teams really late ON A WEEKNIGHT. When most (if not all) of the players have jobs and most are first shift.

I am already pushing it with 9:15/9:45pm game start times (factor in about 45 minutes both before and after for getting into and out of equipment and driving to and from. Not to mention that the game itself tends to go 1 hour 15-20 minutes...) that get me home near midnight. Any later and I can't play.

With the kids learn-to-play-hockey programs, group (figure) skating lessons, house leagues, the junior/high school teams, the figure skaters (freestyle skating takes up blocks of hours at a time during the day), public skating, and possibly drop in hockey... one ice sheet will not cut it. As it is, the adult ice hockey games are getting moved around to weird hours of the day during the week.

At least one person has said they are going to start a petition but also start looking around for an alternate place to rent an ice sheet (the nearest one is The Mark... )

And I have heard grumbling that the city I live in does not contribute anything to the running of the facility.

Excuse me, but I have been putting good money in there.

Meanderings...

2010-01-20T07:53:00.000-06:00

1 - Pat Robertson, STFU. You do not speak for Christians and you do not speak for the One. You are not The One's Champion. Attempting to justify NOT sending relief to Haiti because "they made a deal with the Devil" means there is no compassion in your heart.

2 - Mr. Obama needs to show some serious leadership. Additionally, the Democrats need to show some spine and get rid of Joe Lieberman. Let the Republicans filibuster and not just threaten. Let them be fools. Do they really want to let the Republicans have THAT much power over them? The Democrats still have the majority. Act like they've lost it and pass EVERYTHING.

3 - Health Care: Rates still going up. Even without the Reform bill. Insurance Companies still control everything. It sucks.

4 - Watched the AHL All Star Skills Competition last night. Watching certain players be all nervous was more amusing than it had any right to be. =D

5 - Did a partial weeding out of books and stuff last night. Will go through the closet tonight and do the same with my clothes. Maybe my bags too.

6 - I'm going to be boring and post this to all my blogs. This is your warning.

C.

Maybe... maybe not.

2010-01-11T12:55:00.000-06:00

Prior to my vacation (last week of 2009), there was a bid for proposal that sounded pretty firm on whether or not it was going to happen.

It involved work sending 2 people (myself and someone else) to Mainland China in order to investigate a few problems at a facility 3 hours east of Beijing.

Since then, the inquiry has continued and the next question was whether my passport was up to date. It is.

But even since then, one of my co-workers has said the trip likely is not going to happen.

*shrug* Okay... I guess I can deal with that.

Thursday...

2010-01-05T12:42:00.000-06:00

It is my insecure, neurotic, paranoid self that tells me that the person in charge of rec league does not want me in the league anymore. Nor do my former teammates.

I hate thinking like this, especially given that no one has said that to me anyway.

Note to brain: stop that.

I hate feeling like I am no good at anything. Just like I hate feeling like I'm forgettable and not worthy of anyone's friendship or anything else.

I enjoy playing ice hockey. I enjoy playing centre, and wing if necessary.

I do not enjoy constantly wondering whether I'm totally sh(t at it and should just give it up.

C.

"Snag"...

2009-12-23T06:08:00.001-06:00

Ilya Kovalchuk's contract negotiations have hit a snag.

People are all like "hand him a blank contract, have him fill it in, and GIVE him the contract".

Ummm... with the NHL's salary cap, things no longer work that way.

Another team tried that. The Tampa Bay Lightning tanked and were forced to talk one of those players into accepting a trade to Dallas. And they are still trying to recover from not having much cap room.

And then there is the case of the Chicago Blackhawks... who have treated players with two-way contracts like yo-yos.

I've HAD it.

2009-12-20T21:06:00.000-06:00

I am tired of being treated like I have no right to be mad/upset/angry/whatever about ANYTHING.

Tonight, I overheard a waiter telling a party he was waiting on that he got a talking to after having written "Merry Christmas" on a customer's receipt. He was complaining that he guessed he "had to be PC at work". My own thought on that is that what if the customer wasn't Christian OR was Jehovah's Witness or something? I admit I got cranky where that was concerned and posted a Twitter saying that "saying Merry Christmas to me would be like saying Happy Hannukah to Osama bin Laden". Maybe not the best way to put it, but there it is.

I am tired of the whole "War on Christmas" crap. I also do not like the presumption that ONLY Christmas is celebrated at this time of year. Which is why I tend to go with "Happy Holidays".

I was also accused of being "as far from PC" as possible. I wasn't trying to be PC. I was annoyed and running off at the mouth.

Then I saw what happened to Matt Stajan last night and the end result of it (a cut less than an inch from his EYE) was nasty. And got told that "it's hockey. kid should have kept his head up".

Ummm, EXCUSE ME, he was nearly blinded, AND the other player DID raise the forearm.

If it had been, say, Marc Savard, or Patrice Bergeron instead of Matt Stajan who had been hit, the team and fans in question would be LIVID, I guarantee that.

Oh, yes, and the person who DM'd me saying all this? unfollowed me on Twitter. And will likely disconnect me from all of the other stupid social networking sites we're on each other's lists for.

Why I have an online presence again, I have no clue.

And why I keep being treated like I have no right to be mad or upset...

No idea there either.

End of the year stuff...

2009-12-16T12:38:00.000-06:00

5 working days and 7 total days until my vacation starts. Well, ok, after 3:30pm today anyway.

Year is ending fairly well.

Getting a small raise next year (everyone is) and getting a small year end bonus, so things are looking okay for me before the end of the year.

Still have issues, but that goes without saying.

One more rec league game left in the session. And then I will sign up for next session.

REALLY bad sign

2009-12-04T15:07:00.000-06:00

Part of a note to me from the person doing data gathering for work client referencing a power distribution cabinet:

"I can’t imagine what they were thinking when they installed this cabinet."

Oy vey.

TGIFriday!

2009-12-04T11:36:00.000-06:00

1 - Note to self: When going to an ice show, remember that they're figure skaters, even if they're skating on a surface usually reserved for hockey.

2 - Going out to The Sow's Ear tonight. Overnight in Madison and then driving home. Work Holiday Dinner Saturday at 5pm. (Forgot about the blood donation appointment, so I've rescheduled that for next Saturday. Oops. *wry*)

3 - Flurries (Fleurys? ;) )right now, accumulation eventually.

4 - Jonesing for... a lot of stuff. Wondering if perhaps a given someone mentioning some things is responsible for #2.

5 - Pondering AHL hockey over Christmas weekend, and over New Year's. Chicago in 2 weeks to meet up with friends. YAY friends! =D

Not feeling the love

2009-11-30T10:01:00.000-06:00

Tried to go gift shopping on Black Friday.

Total haul? 4 CDs. Total of about $7.50. From the Goodwill Store.

None of them are gifts.

Went grocery shopping on Sunday and tried to pick up some other stuff... REALLY not feeling the "holiday shopping" love.

And it isn't because I'm broke either.

Just not feeling it.

Ramblings

2009-11-18T12:25:00.000-06:00

Rockford seems to be taking up a lot of my time of late. Well, the hockey team anyway. And I do appreciate the effort the team and organisation are going through in order to get fans to enjoy themselves.

Rec league is going decently. The team is still not winning much if any, but given the fact that the team is pretty much all individual reg people, we don't know who will show up from week to week.

I got smiles from the two on Rockford I wanted, and surprised 2 others with action shot pictures for them to sign - one goes to a friend, the other stays with me.

Politics... well... Grandma Palin is at it again I see. What a waste of printing material.

Thinking I will likely have a low key winter holiday...

Drop in the bucket...

2009-11-04T11:45:00.001-06:00

What I just sent to 2 of my 3 legislators... (the third one is totally USELESS)

+++++

I just got notice from my work that my premiums are going to go up from $45 per pay period to $70. I am already on a catastrophic plan which means I have to pay a $2000/per year deductible BEFORE my insurance company will do ANYTHING.

Doing the calculations, it means I have to pay about $1800 to my insurance company and they STILL make me pay an additional $2000 out of pocket before they will do ANYTHING.

And yet the CEO of the company makes more in an hour than I do PER YEAR.

I implore you to help me and everyone else in the same situation. DO SOMETHING.

Define Equal Protection

2009-11-04T09:14:00.002-06:00

14th Amendment:
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE - Portion of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits discrimination by state government institutions. The clause grants all people "equal protection of the laws," which means that the states must apply the law equally and cannot give preference to one person or class of persons over another.

In that case, where does Marriage fall? Is marriage not something set into law by the federal government as well as the states?

And how does the ban on same-gendered couples marrying mean that the states are applying the law equally and do not give preference to one person or class of persons over another?

Hi, Maine? Could you answer that Question? California, you as well.

Iowa, you are exempt from having to answer this question because, well, you already HAVE.

This is the guy "Leafs Nation" is counting on?

2009-11-03T14:46:00.002-06:00

(I will note: I am not counting on this guy at all)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/125292-will-the-real-phil-kessel-please-stand-up

Will The Real Phil Kessel Please Stand Up?
Ty Anderson

Scribe Written on February 16, 2009

It's safe to say Wisconsin native Phil Kessel's journey with the Boston Bruins hasn't been an easy one, to say the least. Taken by the Bruins in the first round of the 2006 Draft with the fifth overall pick, Boston had high hopes for the University of Minnesota star right-winger.

A prospect with high potential and talent, Kessel was capable of being the first overall selection. However, issues with his attitude and work ethic let Kessel slide down to the fifth selection, and into black and gold.

However, the Bruins felt confident that the jump to the NHL would change the problems he had at the University of Minnesota. Kessel's rookie campaign in Boston proved to be a difficult one, both on and off the ice. On Dec. 12, the Bruins took Phil Kessel off their active roster with a 'medical issue'. The issue was treatment for testicular cancer.

In a month's time, Kessel returned to the Bruins and with a bang. He scored the game-winning shootout goal to beat the Penguins 5-4. Shootouts, after all, were the only thing the rookie shined in. Although Kessel ended the year with rather poor totals (12 goals, 17 assists and -12) the Bruins fans and management gave the then 19-year-old a pass.

In 2007, it seemed Kessel was much the same player that struggled the previous year.

On Oct. 25, 2007, Kessel pulled a terrific toe-drag move past a Chicago defensemen and scored past Khabibulin. For the next 73 games, it's all we saw from the winger. It appeared every time he went up ice, he was trying to same toe-drag and it simply wasn't working. He scored just 14 times after Oct. 25.

Then in the playoffs, it appeared Claude Julien had had enough of the unsuccessful and repetitive deke. Kessel received a benching for Games Two, Three and Four, something Julien did to Alexei Kovalev during his tenure as coach in Montreal to wake him up.

The benching worked, and in Game Five Kessel scored a goal and played defense for the first time in a Bruins uniform in the Bruins 5-1 rout of the Habs.

Then came Game Six game—thee game.

In the first period, Savard fell down near the center ice dot when Kessel took over. He went up ice, did the same move we all saw all season long and it worked. He put it right through Francis Bouillon's legs' and wristed it by Price to score.

As the Garden erupted, so did Kessel. He scored yet another goal in the third period in what many consider,the official rebirth of hockey in Boston.

As the 2008 season began, Kessel wasted no time resuming his work, scoring six goals in the Bruins first six games of the season. It appeared he was becoming the real Phil Kessel. Kessel went cold, got hot and then got cold again. During his second cool-down, Bruins fans noticed a fatigue in Kessel's step and skating. He look exhausted and often winded after his shifts.

Then on Jan. 10, Kessel was placed on injured reserve with mono. Who he was kissing has yet to been discovered as the search continues for the culprit, but one thing was for the sure: the Bruins were without their sniper. The overall play of the team didn't appear to suffer greatly as the Bruins went 4-1-1 with Kessel out, but they were more than happy to get him back.

However, things haven't been great since his return.

Kessel hasn't hit his stride yet. Call it rust, call it a cold streak—though it's more like an ice streak—Kessel is goal-less in his last 12 games, sporting a disappointing -3 in those games.

It appears the Bruins' fans worst fears came true as Kessel has reverted to doing the toe-drag again and again unsuccessfully. Don't count on another benching due to the injuries, but as the Bruins continue to slide and continue to struggle to put pucks past the goalie, all eyes will be focusing on the potential offensive juggernaut that is Phil Kessel, waiting for him to awake.

Hmmm.

2009-11-03T13:54:00.000-06:00

"I want to be traded." - 5 years left on a 6 year contract extension. Player was UFA pre-extension, and one of the top scorers.

"I am no longer negotiating with the Boston Bruins." - Player was RFA, team refused to pay him $5mil+ a year, arbitration was not entered into.

GM of a given team badmouthed and bashed one, but acquired the other.

Who are they, you might wonder?

Guess.

Both of them have a city and state in common (one went to school there, the other was born there).

I like one a lot (and worry about him) while the other makes me want to throw up.

One is now on my favourite NHL (Eastern Conference) team, while the other is playing in San Jose.

And I suspect my favourite NHL (East) team has just given their #1 overall draft pick to the Boston Bruins.

Because in spite of someone's claim that Brian Burke does not tank, THE LEAFS ARE.

And I want to throw a tantrum because I wish they were NOT.

Health Care Reform - a la Alan Grayson (D-FLA)

2009-10-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

Representative Alan Grayson has characterized the Republican Party's health care plan as:

1. Don't get sick;

2. And if you do get sick,

3. die quickly.

I would like to revise that a little.

That is what the for-profit health insurance companies want. After all, they can get all the money you paid in for premiums for nothing. Subsequently, that is what the republicans want, and that is what the other lawmakers who are getting donations and payoffs and bribes from the health insurance companies then therefore want too.

Thanks a LOT United HealthCare. Premiums have gone up 12%, 12%, and 18% in the last 3 years. And for what? UHC already doesn't pay ANYTHING until the $2000(single)/$5000(family) deductible is met.

Balance updated

2009-10-27T07:28:00.001-05:00

Well, it took them 9 games into the season, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are FINALLY 1-7-1. They did it by roasting a Duck in Anaheim, but it was touch and go for a while there (groan). Niklas Hagman got a hat trick, Tomas Kaberle had 5 points, and Matthew Stajan got a penalty and 3 assists. (Hmm... wonder if they took a page out of Tampa Bay's book and did strip-shootout too...)

Between Saturday morning and now (Tuesday), Jacob Dowell has been recalled twice. And this is after he played in Friday night's Rockford drubbing of the Milwaukee Admirals (6-1, Rockford win). Rockford played Saturday in Peoria but Dowell was in Chicago, playing for the Blackhawks against Nashville. Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook were injured in the game against the Canucks about a week ago and have not skated since then. (Stupid Willie Mitchell) Dowell was called up as the Blackhawks had enough Defence but not enough forwards.

The Badger women keep splitting series with the schools they go up against. They lose the first one and win the second.

The Badger men... are 1-2-1. Thus far it's a better start than they got to last season (0-6-1 in their first 7 games)... so here's hoping...

Rockford plays the Admirals again this coming Saturday, but I don't know whether or not there are plans to do other things.

Balance

2009-10-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

The 2008-2009 Wisconsin Badgers began the season 0-6-1 before going on a 7 game unbeaten streak (6 wins and 1 tie) and finishing 14-11-3 for the year.

The 2009-2010 Badgers are currently 0-1-1. Last week was their first set of games and saw them lose and tie Colorado College. (With the referreeing sucking worse than a broken vacuum cleaner)

The Badger women's team couldn't lose at home last season and are 2-2 this season (so far), having lost their best goaltender (JESSIE VETTER!) to graduation. They lost a couple of their best players to Team USA (and likely Team Canada) for the Olympics.

The 2009-2010 Toronto Maple Leafs are currently 0-6-1. Seeing how the Badgers last season did... there is SOME hope.

The Marlies are now 3-2-0-1, having won their last game against Abbottsford. They play the same team tonight.

The Rockford Ice Hogs are 4-2-0-1, and play Peoria tonight and Milwaukee on Friday. Jake Dowell is now Captain, and Jack Skille SHOULD be back in the lineup tonight.

C.

Hockey Woes

2009-10-13T10:01:00.001-05:00

1 - NHL

1a - With Kessel on the Leafs I am less likely to be happy about this. I don't like him and I don't trust him. I hope this does not screw up team chemistry, but I have the feeling it will because Kessel is a selfish player who doesn't know how to play on a team. I have heard him described as a shy, soft-spoken kid who doesn't do well in interviews. I have also heard he has a big ego and an attitude problem, rather like Kyle Beach.

As of now, the Leafs feel like a team without any real chemistry.

I know someone who says that "Burke does not do 'Tank'". Ummm... last place in the NHL. No wins yet six games in, and only 1 point due to an OT loss. WTF do you call that?

And I've heard that EVERYONE except for Luke Schenn is a possible demotion to the AHL, contract or not. How anyone expects to play well with a situation like that is beyond me.

"Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman will be the odd men out to make room for Bozak and Stalberg, Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada has learned.

Only a decent power play is keeping the Maple Leafs from abject failure. Toronto is second worst in the league on the penalty kill, and sixth-worst even strength."

Okay, so, benching part of your special teams unit is the way to go then?

1b - The Blackhawks have a roster problem. Hossa is out until mid-November, so someone can hopefully find a spot. Burish is out until March at the latest. Eager has what looks like Post Concussion Syndrome... someone else can find a spot.

Right now, they have Bickell, Klinkhammer, Brophey, Crawford and Dowell in Rockford who are likeliest callups, with Dowell being most likely.

Current lineups (not in any order or group)

Toews, Kane, Versteeg,
Sharp, Bolland, Byfuglien,
Ladd, Fraser, Brouwer
Madden, Kopecky, Skille(up and down... like a yo-yo)

Keith, Seabrook
Campbell, Barker
Sopel, Hjalmarsson
Hendry - usually scratched.

Huet
Niemi

2 - Rec League
Now on a Monday/Thursday schedule. Games after 9pm. Meaning I usually have time for pre-game nap.

3 - AHL
3a - Toronto Marlies
Are now 2-1, with a win over Grand Rapids and Hamilton, and a loss to Rockford.

3b - Rockford Ice Hogs
Now 2-1-0-1: wins over the Marlies and Lake Erie, loss to Hamilton, and Shoot Out loss to Peoria

4 - Wisconsin Badgers
4a - Women are now 2-2, and have lost 2 players to bad injuries.

4b - Men start their season on Friday.

The return of the hockey roadtrips

2009-10-12T07:52:00.000-05:00

Friday -
Work
Drive to Rockford (Ice Hogs vs. Wolves)
Drive to Madison
Sleep.

Saturday -
Sow's Ear? (maybe...... they do open at 7am)
Wisconsin vs. Colorado College (game 2 of season)

Sunday -
Run Errands
Drive back to QC.

15 Milestones - and a BlogspotMilestone

2009-10-01T09:27:00.002-05:00

15 milestones

1 - first major injury - left hand, middle finger, due to climbing on a piano (age 3)

2 - realising parents will likely not stay married (watching them fight) - age 3

3 - moving to California - 1980 - age 7

4 - Placement in temporary Foster care - 1983 - age 9

5 - Parents divorce - 1983 - Age 9/10

6 - mental breakdown - April 1994 - age 20

7 - first (and only) "romantic" relationship (includes "losing" something...)- 1994 - Age 21

8 - Graduation from College - 12 years - 2003 - Age 30

9 - Passing of Engineer In Training/Fundamentals of Engineering exam - October 2003 - Age 30

10 - Completely letting go of "first" relationship. Decide that sort of thing is not for me. - 2006 (age 33)

11 - start learning to play ice hockey - October 2006 (age 33)

12 - Plans for first DMB concert (Alpine Valley) - April 2007 (age 33)

13 - Hired for EE job - June 2007 (age 34)

14 - Move to upper Midwest - July 2007 (age 34)

15 - Start sharing apartment with best friend - October 2007 (age 34)

+++++

This post also marks post 150 at blogspot.

Yadda yadda...

2009-09-30T13:26:00.000-05:00

1 - I am severely annoyed at my body at the moment. Why? Well, the last couple of months have been the same way: bloating to the point where my clothes don't fit, then my period happens, and near the end of it, I drop back to where my clothes DO fit and the stuff I picked out to wear thinking that I'm fat and stuff... don't fit because the water weight is gone. Argh.

2 - Roman Polanski. Committed statutory rape of a 13 year old, although reports say he drugged the girl too. Plead guilty. Fled the country to Europe before being sentenced. Thirty years ago. Recently was arrested for the crime and is NOW going to be extradited. And people are DEFENDING HIM. Excuse me, he raped a girl, pled guilty, ran before he could be punished, and is getting what is coming to him after 30 years and all you can talk about is "how talented he is"?! WTF?! Sentence him. Throw the key away.

3 - NHL/AHL season starts this weekend.
3a - With Kessel on the Leafs I am less likely to be happy about this. I don't like him and I don't trust him. I hope this does not screw up team chemistry, but I have the feeling it will because Kessel is a selfish player who doesn't know how to play on a team.
3b - The Blackhawks have a roster problem. Hossa is out until mid-November, so someone can hopefully find a spot. Burish is out until March... someone else can find a spot.

Right now, they have Bickell, Klinkhammer, Brophey, Dowell, and Skille up in addition to:

Toews, Kane, Versteeg,
Sharp, Bolland, Byfuglien,
Ladd, Fraser, Eager
Madden, Kopecky, Smolenak

Keith, Seabrook
Campbell, Barker
Sopel, Johnson
Hendry, Hjalmarsson

Huet
Crawford
Niemi

Linkages...

2009-09-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Body size. Self-Esteem. Diet. Shape and size distortion. Depression.

For me, it is usually: I start worrying that I'm fat, I get unhappy with myself, started hating myself, start cutting back on the amount of food I intake, don't feel it's enough, restrict my intake even more... and don't see any improvement.

In the meantime, I'm sick, nauseated, dizzy, and lightheaded all the time. I get to the point of feeling crappier and crappier every day and then get sick of it.

So I stop.

Am I fat? I don't know. What I do know is that I tend to fall into a bad trap when I start obsessing over food and weight and all of that.

I have also figured out that I tend to maintain or even lose a little when I'm not focussed on things like "let's see if I can't work just as well on fewer calories".

Do not want!

2009-09-19T07:33:00.000-05:00

So the Leafs traded 3 draft picks (2 first round and a second round) for Phil Kessel, and then promptly signed him to a 5 year $27 million contract.

This will not be pretty.

Phil Kessel is a selfish, self-centred prima donna who has already proven himself to be relatively on par with the sterotypical selfish athlete. When the Bruins refused to sign him to the contract HE wanted, he pretty much threw a tantrum and said that he "was done" negotiating with them. So the Bruins found a sucker to take him...

I hate Brian Burke for this signing. The other ones made some sense. Kessel, though... I know he's a Madison, WI native and all that, but seeing as he went to Minnesota AND has acted like nothing but a selfish little brat his entire career... starting with the PRESS CONFERENCE he held when he was 18 to say which college he'd selected to attend. Who the hell DOES that sort of thing?

Phil Kessel.

At the start of last season, someone I know adored him. She can't stand him now. That either means she's very fickle, or she has actually come around to the fact that he is not a team player.

Griping

2009-09-14T22:10:00.000-05:00

To Eric Duhatschek - Dany Heatley's tenure at Wisconsin was 1999-2001. Joe Pavelski's tenure at Wisconsin was 2004-2006. This does not make them TEAMMATES AT WISCONSIN as you pointed out in your Globe and Mail blog. HockeyDB is easy to use. I suggest you CHECK YOUR FACTS before saying anything like that. If you are going to publish a blog that will be for public consumption, factchecking IS YOUR FRIEND. Sheesh.

+++++

Jack Skille made the Chicago Blackhawks out of training camp last season. He was sent down again after 6 games - during which time the team changed head coaches - before being called up again at the very end of February. He was also yo-yo'd one other time meaning there were a whole bunch of games he missed on Rockford because he was playing with the Blackhawks at the time.

Add to that the two weeks or so he spent injured with a closed head injury after Brian Sipotz and then Scott Lehman hit him during a game against the Wolves before coming back in the game against the Marlies in Toronto... and then there was the injury (speculation that it was a hyperextended elbow... when Mitch Love of Houston hit him) that ended his season in late March where he again couldn't play for 2 weeks, and missed all of Rockford's short run (swept by Milwaukee) in the playoffs. He was called up and acted as a reserve player for the Blackhawks run into the playoffs... but he didn't play.

So when people say that he needs to step up... where the HELL is he going to step up to if the Blackhawks don't give him any playing time, but insist on calling him up or if he gets injured and can't play? As it was, he was tied for second on the team for goals and only played in 53 games in Rockford, as well as 8 games for the NHL team.

+++++

Note to the people calling "liar liar pants on fire" to President Obama in regards to the health care reform activities that are going on. If I remember correctly, it was you lot who insisted on respect for the President while Mr. GWBush was President. Calling Mr. Obama a liar is disrespectful.

You cannot have it both ways. It does not work that way.

Notes...

2009-09-09T08:47:00.000-05:00

Note to Mark Sanford, Governor - South Carolina

Dear sir:

It is not your extra-marital affair which has me wanting to see you resign from your elected office. I am not a resident of South Carolina and am therefore not one of your constituents. However, I currently do object to the fact that you went missing from your job as governor of a state without leaving word as to where you would be, and without making arrangements for state business to be covered by the Lieutenant Governor, which, after all, is part of the job.

This sort of behaviour would get people fired in the real world, so it is only natural that you need to lose your job as well. This has nothing to do with who or what you were doing. The fact is, reconciling with your wife would be nice, but from all indications, she is not even giving you the time of day, so stop pushing.

+++++

Dear Jay Bouwmeester...

You liked Lanny McDonald's moustache? Really? =D

Please do not try to grow one like that. I am not sure I would ever be able to stop laughing.

+++++

Note to the "Taxed Enough Already" crowd -

You are being played.

First of all, anyone who tells you that Medicare is NOT a government program has LIED to you.

Secondly, how much stuff that goes on around you that you do not think you pay for do you take for granted? Roads? Bridges? Medicare? Hello?

Third? All of that shouting you do to intentionally disrupt meetings is rude and inappropriate and while you are exercising YOUR First Amendment rights, by behaving in such a fashion you are DENYING others THEIR First Amendment rights to free speech. So STFU and STFD.

Team Chemistry

2009-09-03T12:39:00.000-05:00

For a long time I have said that the Ottawa Senators were brute-forced together. Their current troubles in the locker room (including the situation with Heatley) seem to prove that particular opinion. Hasek, Emery, Heatley, Comrie... That team did not seem to me to be playing like a team. And I'm guessing that Clouston was trying to get them to play like a team, but it was more than one player who wasn't playing along. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the disruptions to team chemistry did not start with Heatley... nor will they end with him.

Note to the people comparing this to the Yashin situation - it is not even remotely the same. Yashin asked for more money while still under contract, and when the team refused, he refused to play. Then when the fans sued him for breach of contract, he blamed the fans. THEN he asked to be traded, which the team essentially refused to do. THEN he said 'okay, I'll come back and play' for the same amount that he'd refused to a year earlier. THIS is what has earned him a permanent place on my shit-list. Dany Heatley has only asked to be traded due to a diminished role on the team. He has NOT asked for more money, NOR has he refused to play for the team.

As for the Leafs... I don't know what to think of that. I don't think it's brute-forced together, but at the same time I don't know whether the team currently HAS any chemistry whatsoever.

I have seen the Blackhawks play recently and they DO have chemistry. Whether it will be enough to get them through this season is something else entirely.

I cannot say that the Leafs are no longer my favourite team. At the moment I have little to no access to Leafs games and a hell of a lot of access to Blackhawks games. I want the Leafs to pull themselves together and become a properly cohesive team. I do not, unfortunately, see that happening until something is done with the upper management, however. I will note: this is not a bashing of Burke. I think the problems the Leafs have go higher than even him.

Refusal

2009-09-01T12:25:00.000-05:00

"I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
And to the country for which it stands
One nation, under god,
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"

While I understand the pledging allegiance to a country, what I don't understand is the flag part. I mean, after all, flags can change. Flags DO change.

Never mind the fact that I never say the pledge anyway. (I find it petty and pedantic. Not to mention unnecessary)

Then again, this IS all my opinion....

Hockey equipment....

2009-08-28T13:23:00.000-05:00

Base layer - Champion/Shock doctor
Helmet - Bauer
Chest Protector - Easton Stealth
Elbow protector - CCM Vector
Gloves - Bauer Vapor X - has hole in palm, considering Easton Stealth as replacement
hockey pants - Bauer
Shin guards - ITech
Skates: CCM Vector

Stick:
1 - Easton Classic - Yzerman - 1 left, 1 right
2 - RBK - 1 left
3 - Bauer - Kovalchuk - 1 left

Yes, this means I have 4 sticks. I bought one of each when I started (Easton Classic) because I didn't know which side I was more comfortable with.

Note to Morning Edition this morning...

2009-08-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

In regards to the interview with Michael Steele on the 27 August 2009 show, I listened to the interview and found Michael Steele rude and condescending. He talked over Steve Inskeep who was merely trying to ask him a question. Not only that, he contradicted himself at least once during the interview.

Secondly, NPR is usually known for its even-handedness when it comes to reporting. However, having Michael Steele on one day and Dick Armey on the next to talk about health care reform is only presenting one side of the debate. Neither Armey nor Steele wants health care reform to actively go through. They would rather keep things status quo.

Please consider having the other side on, at the very least in interest of fairness.

Insanity or Perfectionism?

2009-08-25T11:33:00.002-05:00

The stated definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

So how does that explain my re-making craft projects - ripping them up and re-doing them - over and over again?

I guess I just haven't been happy with the way things have turned out.

I don't know...

2009-08-21T14:18:00.002-05:00

'Diminished role' led to Heatley's trade request

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2009/08/21/sp-heatley.html?ref=rss

Dany Heatley said his "diminished role" with the Ottawa Senators is the biggest reason he asked to be traded.

+++++

Far be it for me to say what is in that boy's mind... but I don't know if I believe his reasons for wanting a trade.

He says this time it was "purely hockey"... and that last time it was personal. Personally? I think both are off-ice business, although one has more to do with the return of Ray Emery into the NHL. Yes, I still stand by that particular opinion.

Missing the point...

2009-08-16T20:09:00.003-05:00

All of those studies which indicate that organic food is no more nutritious than food grown and processed the "usual" way miss the point, in my opinion.

After all, how many chemicals and stuff WERE NOT USED in organic farming that were in the "usual" way? And how long does any of that stuff last, residue wise?

Sure, it may not look quite as "pretty" as the "usual" way farmed stuff, but it's not going to matter once you cook and eat it. And, actually, I think the organic stuff tastes better, personally. But that's me.

Having to pick...?

2009-08-13T12:27:00.001-05:00

If I have to pick between Meghan McCain, Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham, and Ann Coulter...?

Meghan McCain any day of the freaking week. Unless and until she proves herself to be even more insane than any of the others... in which case.. I'm not picking any of them.

That is all.