I can no longer blow off my knee injury. I’m having it X-rayed this weekend, which means I can’t play rat hockey with friends tomorrow or in my game on Monday. Well, maybe I could because I see the PCP Monday afternoon, but I’ve already asked someone to sub for me. I, of course, am convinced that I may never play again.
In any case, here’s something I’ve never done before — posted a video. This was taken with Brian’s camera phone through a glass window from the bar above the rink. Though this is supposed to be an instructional league, all levels are welcome, and the majority of the white team’s players have stronger skating, shooting, and puck handling skills. Some have (to me) obviously play(ed) together.
I’m on the black team, jersey #1, of course! Be sure to turn the volume up a tad for the soundtrack. Heehee. I think it was coming from the bar, but somehow the song, R.E.M.’s “The One I Love” seems appropriate, mainly the second chorus. The play I make comes really quickly in the beginning of the video. The huge (to me), white player takes a shot on me. It’s a scrimmage, so there’s no stoppage in play. Did I mention this is a co-rec league?
I had to start over because the last time I played, I couldn’t remember how far I had gotten and what I’d accomplished. But now, the game sometimes freezes when I try saving it, even in a new slot. Or it’ll freeze when it’s automatically loading a new section or whatever. The sound is also very staticky.
So last night, I started over yet again, but on the regular Xbox, not the 360. Haven’t had any trouble so far, but we’ll see. It would really piss me off if there’s something wrong with the 360 because I finally got the second version of Star Wars LEGO, which I obviously won’t be able to play if there’s something wrong with the stupid machine.
Anyone else have this problem, or know where I could get my 360 fixed? Or maybe it would cost less to just buy a new one than have it repaired? I can’t believe our regular Xbox has outlasted the 360!
The Turtles, with our advanced goalie, Lily, in the net, ended the season with a 3 -2 win against the 5th place More Cowbell. However, this isn’t entirely it for the Turtles. We are getting together once again, though with a slightly different roster, for the first ever Northbrook Summer Mixer. Our advanced goalie will be Lydia, who ironically, was More Cowbell’s goalie in this game. Please take a look at the pictures because there are some great shots of both goalies as well as fan pics!
The Turtles will be playing against the yet-to-be-named Blue team starting this Monday, with me scheduled to play goalie. There are only three teams in the Mixer, the other of which is Purple. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do: beat the other teams Blue and Purple!
Playoffs Champs! (click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
This was a very exciting game, to say the least. I was so scared because I’ve been killed by the Sweet Potatas in the past (Week 4: Sweet Potatas vs. the Turtles), particularly by #18, who’s just an excellent shot. Though my stats this game aren’t the greatest, she was the one who scored every single one of their goals. I guess you can interpret that however you wish. I did have some really good saves though, even against #18; I don’t know how I did them and it’s too bad Brian didn’t capture those on camera.
In the first period, there was a puck up against the left post and I was keeping it from going in with my left skate blade and my stick (27 — be sure to look at the original size!). It came loose and entered the crease. One of my teammates yelled, “Cover it!” I just reacted, went down immediately, and slammed my left leg flat on top of the puck (28 — again, take a peek at the original size to get a close look at the play!). Good thing I’ve been practicing my splits/hamstring stretches! I was also pretty happy to see throughout the game pics that my butterfly is improving.
A few of us brought potato mashers to the rink, so maybe that’s what helped! It was a really close game, and the underdogs (that was us) rose to the challenge!
On Thursday I’ll write a post of the Turtles (my other team’s) last game, in which I didn’t play because I played in this game, which was on the night before. Also on Thursday is the championship series! Royal Pain in the Arse will be playing the Sweet Potatas for 3rd place, and we’ll be playing Moussaka for 1st. I’m disappointed that our advanced goalie is playing in our game and not me — both of her teams are in the finals (she also plays for Royal Pain in the Arse — the beginner goalies will play in that game), but I’m happy for her because she did set Pink Floyd’s foundation, and like me, she’s a former Ohio State University Women’s Club Hockey member! Different years, though. And when we played, the team was nothing at all like it is now!
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: #18 skated around our defense right to our doorstep and went low on my glove side for the first goal. The second goal was on a breakaway by the same player — she skated right through our entire defense like a freight train at full speed and scored on my stick side.
Second Period: #18 scored with a wrist shot right between the face-off circles on either side of me; the Sweet Potatas did an excellent job of screening me. I couldn’t see the puck.
Third Period: The last goal was scored by another breakaway by #18, faking a lot of shots before finally shooting it high.
Final Score: Sweet Potatas 4, Pink Floyd 5. We were ahead by one all game!
First of all, thanks to everyone’s concern for Basil. I picked him up from the vet last evening. He’s had tummy trouble before, but it’s been years, and he was much younger then, so obviously there was more concern this time around. The vet said the X-rays showed that his small intestines look a little thick, which could indicate lymphoma but he doesn’t show any of those symptoms, thankfully. She sent us home with an anti-nausea medication called Metoclopramide, Pepcid AC, and Hill’s Prescription i/d, all of which he only has to consume for a few days.
He was pretty listless when I brought him to the vet in the morning, but by the afternoon he was sitting in the front of his cage eating baby food and drinking water. His appetite seems to be back to normal, though he still seems a little weary. Needless to say, his dental for today has been canceled!
The cable guys arrived at 1:15, which was impressive, considering we were told they’d be here between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. I have Internet at home again — yay!!!!!!
Pink Floyd, my Pink team, made it to the playoffs. We’re still in third place and will be up against the Sweet Potatas, who are currently in second. I’ve only played against them once (Week 4: The Sweet Potatas vs. the Turtles), and they have some really strong players. Also, no subs are allowed in the playoffs and finals. So, game on tonight!
Glove Save!
OK, I did drop it, but recovered the puck and froze it. (click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
I took my own advice and wore a practice jersey that I know fits. However, I thought we were the home team and wore a white jersey. Oops. It’s been over a month since we played Moussaka (Purple), and last time we tied 3 - 3, so you can imagine how disappointed I was to lose after the victory in Week 8: The Blue Angels vs. Pink Floyd. I thought we lost 5 - 3, but the final score was 5 - 4, so it was a close game. We were behind by one all game, and I was pulled in the last 30 seconds.
Of course I beat myself up about my performance, even though Moussaka members complimented me on my game. It didn’t make me feel any better then, but it does now. I mean, you all know how hard I am on myself, and for the other team to tell me I did well is a real compliment. Also they had some really good subs playing for them, but I still held my own.
I’m disappointed that I can’t quite get the butterfly thing going, but I guess I just have to find the right buckle holes on my new pads. Well, and practice, of course.
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: A Moussaka player skated towards me along the stick side circle, then shot across and scored on my glove side. We ended the period with a 1 - 1 tie.
Second Period: The second goal came from a shooter coming at me from the stick side circle. I almost stopped the shot by pressing my glove arm against my body, but the puck squeezed through the 11-hole, anyway.
Their third goal was from a rebound in front of the net, and one of the Moussaka players poked it past my glove side. I was down, but I just couldn’t reach across the crease quickly enough. NOTE TO SELF: practice lateral movement.
Second period score was 3 - 2.
Third Period: Moussaka’s fourth goal was a 2-on-1 (two opposing skaters against one of our defense), with the first skater coming up on my glove side trailed by our defender. I was hugging the post as the Moussaka skater moved towards my glove-side corner, but she then shot the puck across to a teammate parked in front of the net for a one-timer. According to Brian, I moved well, but it was an easy shot for the second shooter.
I was on my own for the final goal, which was scored on a breakaway that was a 1-on-0 (one skater; no defense). The shooter came up on my glove side, I went down too early I think, and she scored on a low shot on my stick side. NOTE TO SELF: practice lateral movement.
With 30 seconds left in the game, I was pulled so we could have six skaters on the ice to try to tie the game, but unfortunately, we didn’t. At least Moussaka didn’t score an empty-net goal!
I am worried sick about Basil. He began having diarrhea and started vomiting yesterday. His appetite seemed OK, but this morning he vomited quite a bit — and it wasn’t scarf and barf — and I couldn’t find him anywhere. When I did, he seemed pretty listless.
He’s supposed to have a dental tomorrow, but Angelo will have it instead. They both just had their check-ups this past Saturday and both need dentals, but with Basil being in this condition, we’ll just have to wait even though he has the more severe dental problems. Obviously, they don’t want to put him under anesthesia while he’s sick. He even lost some weight since Saturday!
It doesn’t help that my therapist just canceled on me today because she isn’t feeling well, but that’s life. Brian’s working on a huge proposal at work and probably won’t be home ’til midnight. AND I have no Internet at home. We haven’t for a few days, actually, and Comcast can’t come over ’til tomorrow afternoon. I wanted to post about last week’s game, but I left the stupid stats at home, and I’m at a coffee shop.
Plus I just had ECT on Monday and although it took me most of the day yesterday to recover from the anesthesia, I feel better today — just anxious and worried.
We have our creative writing class tonight and I totally forgot that I’m supposed to distribute my piece. I don’t even have one to distribute! Brian can’t go, so I don’t know if I will or not. It all depends on when I can pick up Basil, or if he’ll have to stay overnight.
Angelo says: More pet pics are available for your viewing pleasure at this week’s Friday Ark. If you post your own pets’ photos, leave them a trackback or comment and you’ll be listed there, too. And remember — they don’t limit pictures just to cats!
Victory!
That black mark is not a smudge on the glass — it’s the puck, and I know I stopped it because I had a shutout third period! (click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
The last time we played the Blue Angels (Week 5: Pink Floyd vs. the Blue Angels), we lost 4 - 1. This time we skated away with a 5 - 3 victory. Not only that, it was my first win all spring! Yay!!!!! And not only that, in Week 6, we were in 5th place; I didn’t play with Pink again until Week 7, after which we were still in 5th place, but after this game, we’re now in 3rd!!! I couldn’t believe it; it was a really exciting game and more so because we won by more than just one goal. Maybe I’m a decent goalie, after all.
Now that my pads match my gloves, I look good so I play good. I love Brian’s Manufacturing goalie gear, but if Coach made goalie equipment, I would be so on it! Heehee. Seriously though, I’m still getting used to the pads. They’re so much bigger and thicker and heavier, but they actually fit me way better and offer a lot more protection.
Also, if you happen to look at all the game pics, you may notice that I’m playing as #60. One of my teammates had an extra jersey from last year and gave it to me because it’s an XL. The fact that I could move my upper half a lot easier really helped a lot. Ironically, I have a jersey when I played one game with the Purple team last year that’s the same size and number. Even more ironic is that we played against the Pink team (see Getting a Life)!
I would wear it to my game tonight, but we’re playing against the Purple team (Moussaka), so it might get just a little confusing. I’ll be in net for the Turtles tonight and have decided to wear a plain white jersey (we’re the home team this game). Well, plain except for my name and number, but at least it fits and I can put it on all by myself. I’ve seen the other goalies wear different jerseys, and I should have started doing it sooner. Live and learn, I guess.
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: The first goal, scored early in the game, was completely embarrassing. The puck was right under my foot, but because of the extra padding that protects my skate soles, I couldn’t feel it. Although they no longer make the model of leg pads I use, clearly this pair is the top-of-the-line version of my old pair, which doesn’t have any padding under the sole at all. Because I couldn’t feel it, one of the Angels tipped it in. We were tied 1 - 1 at the end of the period.
Second Period: This was probably the toughest period all game. For several minutes (probably more like one minute, but it seemed longer), the puck was going back and forth between me and pick-a-Blue Angel, any-Blue-Angel (see this series of pictures: 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 (not sure if the puck went in or bounced off the post because in the next pic, there’s a face-off or what looks like action right after a face-off in our zone), and 76).
The Blue Angels’ second goal was from a turnover inside our own blue line. One of the Angels caught the puck straight on, just above the circles, and beat me stick side, mid-thigh.
Their third goal was a clean shot from the glove side circle, and she beat me stick side. I reached with my stick to block it, but didn’t make it. I almost went down, too, but didn’t. Again, we were tied at the end of this period, 3 - 3.
You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow, Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three.
In the first period, there was a puck up against the left post and I was keeping it from going in with my left skate blade and my stick (
It was a really close game, and the underdogs (that was us) rose to the challenge!
And when we played, the team was nothing at all like it is now!
I love 
