Finally!
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
Finally! The last Puck Cancer game post! This was the consolation game for the two teams who finished last in their respective divisions and took place on Sunday, August 13, 2007. The Ice Hawks came all the way from Cleveland and like us, placed 4th in the second of two beginner/novice divisions. Like the game against the Talons (see “Puck Cancer Game 3″), this one was really, really close, the team was close to our skill level, and was a lot of fun to play, even though we lost. And we were ahead for most of the game, too! Oh, well. Click on the small picture to a larger version of the 2007 Tigers Puck Cancer Team. #95 is missing because she had a roller hockey championship she was also playing in and #5 isn’t in the picture because she was hurt in the last game, but luckily not badly.
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: Shot from my right-hand face-off circle, went in high.
Tigers 2, Ice Hawks 1.
Second Period: Shutout.
Tigers 2, Ice Hawks 1.
Third Period: The Ice Hawks’s second goal was scored during a scrum in front of our net just after one of our defensewomen accidentally knocked the puck into our crease. Their winning goal was from a breakaway after a turnover.
Final Score: Tigers 2, Ice Hawks 3. (Note that Brian’s stats may not match those reflected on the scoreboard, but since it’s Brian’s summary, I always go by his stats. Besides, most of the time, the scorekeeper doesn’t keep track of the players’ shots on goal.)
Goalie Stats
For stats abbreviation key, see below.
Read the rest of this entry »
by George Lucas
I made the mistake of beginning to read the novelization for this movie before watching it again, so about midway through the book, I stopped to put in the DVD. However, I admit that what I’d read of the book has colored my current opinion of the movie.
It was probably only the third, maybe fourth time I had watched it, the first time being at the theater; and my friends had to drag me to go. I tried so hard to resist seeing the first of the prequel trilogy, but I’m glad I went. When Darth Maul made his first appearance, we all thought he rocked. And when he lit the second blade of his lightsaber, we simultaneously leaned back in our seats and breathed, “Whoa!” Like many Star Wars fans, we were disappointed that there wasn’t more Maul.
That opinion still holds for me. As for my first impressions, a few have changed. Jar Jar is tolerable as the trickster figure, but what inspired George Lucas to create the Gungan species, or at least their way of speaking, is still beyond me. Though a cute little boy, Jake Lloyd’s acting isn’t all that impressive. “Yipee”? And for someone who grew up on Tatooine, you’d think his Huttese accent would be a little better. I would cut him some slack, but there are plenty of child actors out there who are better. Don’t ask me to name any, though. Heh. (Although Natalie Portman really impressed me in The Professional, the first movie in which I saw her — the first movie in which she starred.) Ewan McGregor’s and Liam Neeson’s performances are definitely not less than you’d expect.
The plot itself is fine, except for the fact that Anakin Skywalker was conceived without a father. When I first saw the movie, I thought, “Oh, what, so he’s like some kind of Jesus, or something?” I still think that. For the ridiculous characters and plot lines Lucas created, at least there are cool ones to make up for it. The politics revolving around Coruscant and Senator Palpatine’s blooming climb to power is well done. Mace Windu rocks the house. And of course the special effects are awesome. It’s a Star Wars film — how could they not be? Overall though, it’s just OK.
Just Missed!
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
This game, which took place on August 11, 2007, was a really good one — the score was so close, even though we didn’t win. The teams were really evenly matched, and they were just a fun team to play against. If you look at the series of pictures that precede the one above, it really looks like the Talons’ #68 scored a goal, but in this and the following pics no one on the other team is celebrating and the scoreboard remained the same from before this picture to the end of the album. So I must have made a superhot kick save! 
The only unfortunate thing is that for some reason, we’re missing the pictures from the first and second periods, maybe because we played another game earlier that day and things just got lost in cyberspace? I don’t know. Oh, well — it was a lot of fun, and the Orange team will be playing a few games against them this coming season!
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: Both of the Talons’ goals were scored in the first period, and both off of rebounds: I stopped the shot, but the trailing skater following the shooter scored in both cases.
Talons 2, Tigers 0.
Second Period: Shutout.
Talons 2, Tigers 1.
Third Period: Shutout.
Final Score: Talons 2, Tigers 1. (Note that Brian’s stats may not match those reflected on the scoreboard, but since it’s Brian’s summary, I always go by his stats. Besides, most of the time, the scorekeeper doesn’t keep track of the players’ shots on goal.)
Goalie Stats
For stats abbreviation key, see below.
Read the rest of this entry »
Poached
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
I would have used the caption “Slaughtered,” since the Stingeroons, composed of the Glenview Stingers and the University of Chicago Maroons, basically slaughtered us 9 - 0, but since tigers are on the endangered species list, I figure “Poached” is more appropriate. I mean, I don’t even need to draw a red circle to show where the puck is in this picture. The Stingeroons’s #16 scored that goal in the first ten seconds of the game.
We really took a beating. I’d say the first period was the worst one, during which they scored 7 of their goals. In between that period and the next I asked our coach what I was doing wrong. Her reply? “Nothing. They’re a white team.” That is, an advanced team. Then what were they doing playing in the beginner division? But whatever.
I had a shutout second period, though they were probably just taking it easy on me or feeling sorry for me — theirs is the coach who told me in 2001 that I don’t deserve to be a goalie (see “How I Became a Goalie”). No matter. I did my best and so did my teammates. Believe me, I’ve lost worse games during my career on the club team at Ohio State!
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: The first goal, pictured above, was scored high, stick side and on a breakaway in the first ten seconds of the game. Second goal: #66 (I think) shot it; I saved it; but another Stinger scored on the rebound. Third goal was shot from right in front of me and went in low on my glove side. There was a scrum in front of the net during which the fourth goal was scored; we had the puck and I was covering one side of the net, we lost control of it and the other team scored. Fifth goal was off a one-timer that went in on my glove side, high; I had no D. The sixth goal bounced off the top of the post and went in. During another big scrum in front of the net, the puck got loose, and before I had a chance to cover it, the other team tipped it in.
Tigers 0, Stingeroons 7.
Second Period: Shutout.
Tigers 0, Stingeroons 7.
Third Period: The eighth goal was scored on a wraparound — backhanded, no less! The final goal was scored on a slapshot from the slot and went in high, stick side.
Final Score: Tigers 0, Stingeroons 9. (Note that Brian’s stats may not match those reflected on the scoreboard, but since it’s Brian’s summary, I always go by his stats. Besides, most of the time, the scorekeeper doesn’t keep track of the players’ shots on goal.)
Goalie Stats
For stats abbreviation key, see below.
Read the rest of this entry »
This is kind of a preface to the next game post, which is way overdue, but oh well. It’ll be posted soon!
When I moved back from Columbus in 2001, I looked for a specific coach who, back in 1995 when I first joined the Tigers and learned how to skate, worked with our then goalie. During my tenure with the Tigers at the time, we only played one game — a scrimmage against 14-year-old boys; don’t ask me what the outcome was — I honestly don’t remember. Anyway, I found him coaching his own team, and he invited me to a practice, after which he told me everything I was doing was wrong.
Well, no one ever taught me how to play in net! I mean, when I played club at Ohio State it was because no one else wanted to do it — I was originally a right winger! I was the goalie for the second half of the ’99 - ’00 season and the first half of the ’00 - ’01 season and started with the club’s equipment, which of course didn’t fit. (I used credit cards to gradually purchase equipment that did fit.) We didn’t have a goalie coach, and our coaches knew very little about coaching goalies. I was simply told to place my body in front of the puck. I ended up quitting due to severe depression; I mean, even my pdoc in Columbus was afraid I wouldn’t graduate! That’s how bad it was! I had to make my studies a priority.
So anyway, that coach asked me a series of questions, and I guess I answered them wrong — I may have said something about how I preferred to score goals or something. That’s when he decided, and these were his very words, that I didn’t deserve to be a goalie.
After that conversation I didn’t put on a pair of skates again until February of 2006 (see “Skate”); not necessarily because of his remark, well, partially, but mainly because of an even more severe depression — one from which I still suffer, and is why I have maintenance ECT. When I re-joined the Tigers last season, I really thought I’d skate up — I mean, I did in that one game I played in during the 2006 Spring Mixer (see “Getting a Life”) — until about the last minute. It wasn’t even so much that I wanted to play in net, but the Orange team didn’t have a full-time goalie, I figured that I wouldn’t get very much back from Play It Again Sports for my goalie equipment, and that the dues would be cheaper. Seriously.
I did skate up in one game last year (see “Game 4, 06 - 07: Tigers Orange 3, the Vixens 3″), and I questioned myself as to whether or not I should remain a goalie. Even our coach encouraged me to do both, and at the time I felt that I was a better forward, and it was all so confusing. But after this recent game (see “Week 7a: Purple vs. the Turtles”) in which I skated up, I know that I’m a better goalie now. Yeah, I still have tons to learn and work on, but I’m definitely better in net than skating up. So really, I count last year as being my first “real” year as a goalie. Funny where life takes us.
I had my monthly ECT on Monday, and they finally got the anesthesia right! They still had 117 lbs. on my chart, even though last month I told them I was at like, 114. This time, it was one of the nurses who knows me pretty well and she made sure to write down the proper weight (112.6 lbs.). I saw her do it.
Of course, now I’m up to 113, but I’ve been incredibly dehydrated, probably because — lucky me! — I have my period even though I just had it two weeks ago and it’s only the second week of my Pill pack. This is the second month in a row this has happened. It’s like, all my medical problems are competing with each other in terms of showing themselves. And of course I have to have my period on an ECT week. It was the same last month, too. *sigh*
At least I’ve recovered from the anesthesia at a normal rate. I was still a bit slow and woozy yesterday, but I managed to do pilates and stretch, even though I had to improvise on the former. As I was expecting, the picture tube on our TV finally died, so we got a new TV over the weekend; except that it’s a newer model, so Brian’s having a difficult time figuring out how to hook up the VCR (my pilates are on VHS). But no matter — I found the exact same tapes on DVD on the company’s Web site, so they should arrive at Brian’s office on Friday via FedEx 2-day air or whatever.
Too bad I didn’t think to have his birthday present and my LEGO Star Wars: Hoth Rebel Base that I pre-ordered with a gift card delivered there, but I think the latter two are arriving via USPS. Though I’m realizing that won’t make a difference. Today we got a card from USPS that they tried to deliver a package from Brian’s sister. Well, I heard the buzzer make a slight buzz yesterday, but sometimes it doesn’t work, or other times, people ring the wrong fricking buzzer. And if I’m not expecting anybody, I’m not answering the door. I should have learned my lesson when we had to order the HP4 DVD via Amazon, which UPS delivered. Brian ended up having to go to the UPS station after work and waiting until 9:00 to get it!
Anyway, even though I stretched yesterday, my neck was incredibly stiff but my Walgreens sock buddy took care of that last night! I also showered, did some chores, and checked e-mail, though for some reason, I seem to be losing interest in things I used to like, like being constantly signed in to e-mail so I don’t miss any (though I am signed in at the moment); IMing; Crackbook; Neopets; blogging; reading blogs (though that’s been going on for a while but I’ve been making more of an effort to do so); and . . . dare I say it? Hockey.
I think it’s mainly because I got spanked so badly at “tryouts” last week. Even though our advanced goalie can’t make it tomorrow, thank God I don’t have to go. I didn’t really have to go last week because the tryouts are for people who want to play on the Blue (int.) or White (adv.) teams, and I already know I’m going to be on Orange again. But the Blue goalie, who’s also my new mentor, said I should show up for one of the tryouts anyway, so the coaches can see where I’m at, although we have completely new coaches for the Blue and White teams.
The Blue coach is a goalie himself and said he’s willing to work with us individually when there’s time during practice. Anyway, just the few things my Blue mentor told me last week really helped — like following the puck with my eyes all the way to wherever it ends up. I made two glove saves during the scrimmage doing that! Usually they bounce right back out, but I took her advice and managed to close my glove as much as I could (it’s still really stiff), and the puck stayed! And both shots were made by white-level players! Still, they stung bad because my glove doesn’t offer enough protection, but I got the call from the pro shop today — my new glove and blocker are here! Too bad we can’t pick them up ’til Saturday because the shop’s all the way out in the ’burbs. But, those saves were worth the sting, especially considering the players’ levels!
Despite this, I still don’t feel as interested in hockey as I was just a few weeks ago, but I’m sure this is a temporary feeling. A few of my own teammates were there, and being with them again was a lot of fun. Also, I’m really out of shape. I hadn’t been on the ice since the Friday before for my Instructional League, and not for three entire weeks before that due to what I thought was a sinus infection that wouldn’t go away, and, though that was part of it (I have chronic sinusitis), mainly because of the stress and tension the PCP diagnosed, which caused all the tiredness and was mostly remedied when the pdoc had me take all my Tegretol at night instead of one in the morning and two at night.
Still, after the tryouts, I was really beat and my knee began bothering me again (there are three of us goalies at the Instructional League, so we rotate and have a chance to rest). So I’m not going this week because I have the Instructional League on Friday (it’s every other Friday), and I need a day for my knee to rest when possible. Even though the 28th is supposed to be my last day of the Instructional League, I gave it to a goalie acquaintance who goes on the opposite Fridays because our first real practice is the night before, and since I’m the Orange team’s Registrar this year, I have to be there to collect certain information from our players or they aren’t allowed on the ice.
Over the summer, my goalie friend and I would sometimes switch Fridays, but I didn’t ask if I could swap the 28th for her 21st session. I know this is totally girly, but I’d made appointments for a haircut and facial long before I found out our first practice date, and the last time I made an appointment at the salon, I ended up rescheduling at the last minute, and I set these up for the 21st.
Finally, and if you’ve read this far, you have my sincere thanks, I made it to the gym on my own today so obviously, I’m feeling OK physically, and somewhat mentally, and then saw my therapist immediately afterwards. I hadn’t seen her since July, so it was good. I just wish we could have had a double session because of all that’s been on my mind, but at least now I have a regular day and time that I’ll see her (not counting next week), and I’ll probably just take the el, so I won’t have to worry about parking. That’ll also knock off one of my 43 Things — taking public transportation again, even if it’s only once a week. Lastly, my other goal is to start going to the gym with Brian on his way to work, which means I’ll have to go to bed earlier!
Pop-Up
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
It would’ve been totally cool if I caught it in my glove, but I didn’t. As one of my goalie friends said, my glove’s way too small — it’s junior-sized, really old, and still not broken in — not flexible with deep pockets like these new gloves, but not to worry! I’ve already ordered Brian’s Custom Sports’s new intermediate Dx2 glove and blocker in colors to match my leg pads! I just wish they’d get here sooner. The store couldn’t expedite the order because the company’s busy making all the pros’ gear before the season starts. Damn NHL goalies. Well, I’m a professional recreational ice hockey goalie, so what about me?! 
Anyway, what ended up happening is that I crossed my arms, thinking to hold the puck against my chest when it fell back down (see picture 25), but I missed because the puck stayed in the air longer than I thought it would. Weird, huh? At least I dropped down quickly enough to freeze it before one of the Squirrels tipped it in.
The Orange team played the Squirrels last year, and like us, they’re a green-level team. However, because we’re an exhibition team, anyone who plays against us can have any level player on their roster. We can too, but we don’t. Whenever we’ve played them, including this game, it’s been a super-experienced, high-level goalie who we’ve concluded must have played in college, not a rookie like me. I mean, even the advanced players on our PCC team couldn’t get the puck past her — WTF? At least most of their skaters were about the same level as our Orange team, and their team overall was our speed. A lot of our players also hadn’t played since the end of the Spring Mixer or even the end of last season. It was a good game.
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: The first goal, as one of my teammates put it, was really cheap. I made the save — had the puck covered with my leg, but I should have lay my leg completely flat on the ice because the Squirrel pushed it in underneath my leg pad.
Fighting Squirrels 1, Tigers 0.
Second Period: Breakaway by #7, probably their best skater. I moved with her well, but obviously not well enough because she scored low on my stick side.
Fighting Squirrels 2, Tigers 0.
Third Period: Another breakaway by #7 who scored high on my glove side for their third goal.
Final Score: Fighting Squirrels 3, Tigers 0. (Note that Brian’s stats may not match those reflected on the scoreboard, but since it’s Brian’s summary, I always go by his stats. Besides, most of the time, the scorekeeper doesn’t keep track of the players’ shots on goal.)
Goalie Stats
For stats abbreviation key, see below.
Read the rest of this entry »
by Mike Newell
Tsk, tsk, tsk . . . such a handsome villain! I’m sure by now it isn’t considered a spoiler to reveal that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the movie in which Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), the ultimate Harry Potter bad guy, returns to a normal state. For him.
Though he’s completely bald and has serpentine nostrils as described in the book, his eyes are normal and he doesn’t wear robes like the Death Eaters (similar to Darth Vader’s, I might add). No way — the costume designer did a brilliant job with Voldemort’s outfit whether she designed it or procured it, I don’t know, but he’s sporting a black, custom-tailored designer-looking suit and shirt. Very Pradaesque. Anyway, this is Ralph Fiennes, we’re talking about, so how could he not be a handsome villain?
Students from other wizarding schools coming to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament was also a nice touch — well, it was the main plot, after all. The second best scene (next to Voldemort’s rebirth) was Hermione’s (Emma Watson’s) entrance to the Yule Ball, though that could have been played up more, as Rowling did in the book, especially the way Ron (Rupert Grint) realizes at the last minute that she’s “a girl.”
Still, I’m getting a bit tired of the good guys, and I’m thinking that the Dark Mark on the Death Eaters’ left arms would make awesome tattoos!
“Don’t Go Down or You’ll be a Sponge” — The Ref
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)
I asked him what he meant, and he said that the ice was still wet, even after it was Zamboni’d. The problem was, it remained wet for the entire game! Later, even one of the Blue players told me that during the third period, she tapped the ice with her stick blade and it actually rippled! When I skated up on Monday, I knew I was coming down with a sinus infection, but this absolutely did not help. I was already on antibiotics and the doctor (not my regular PCP, who was on vacation) assured me that I’d feel better by the weekend, but I didn’t — and it was the weekend of the Puck Cancer Cup! I was sopping wet by the end of this game.
Anyway, we were short about two skaters this game and actually had to borrow a couple of people from the other team. One is jersey #35, and the other is wearing a blank but green jersey.
We had a lot of penalties this game; I have no idea what for, but they had nothing to do with me!
As usual, we put the pressure on in the third period so the final score was 4 - 3, not in our favor. I wonder why we wait until the last period to do that?
Brian’s Goalie Summary
First Period: There was a loose puck in front of the net, thanks to the the crummy ice conditions, and I was scored on via my glove side post. The second goal was from a rebound — I made the first save, but I don’t know where my defense was so Blue had a wide open shot. My only consolation is that an advanced Blue defense(wo)man, Kristen, made a slapshot from near the blue line right into my chest, and I stopped it — remembered to cross my arms and hold the puck to my chest.
First period score: Turtles 0, Blue 2.
Second Period: There was a turnover in front of the net; a Blue player shot it and scored low, stick side.
Second period score: Turtles 0, Blue 3.
Third Period: #37 - Cabby made a great shot while in a scrum in front of the net and scored high, stick side. I should have yelled, “Screen!” but on second thought, who would I have yelled it to? It seemed like everyone was in front of the net.
Final Score: Turtles 3, Blue 4.
Goalie Stats
For stats abbreviation key, see below.
Read the rest of this entry »
Because that plugin no longer exists/works, or whatever. I am using WP 2.1.3, I think. They upgrade so fast you can’t even keep track anymore. Does anyone else agree that they should make sure one version is completely bug-free before they work on a newer version? Or am I in the minority here? It isn’t that I don’t like change; I like change if I know it works!
Anyway, there’s been a ton of hockey going on lately. Aside from the summer league, I got some Tigers together to play in the Puck Cancer Cup. We played four games in that tournament, and I’m still trying to decide if I should post four separate posts or just one long one. I mean, there are other things going on in my life, such as the fact that my Internet is down!
For the past few days they kept saying it was a power outage. Now they’re sending a tech over tomorrow between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Brian’s been the one dealing with this entire fiasco, so he’ll stay home ’til the — I’m assuming — guy shows up and fixes the damn thing. We’ve actually been discussing getting a land line, and lately Comcast has been airing these “enlightenment” commercials about their digital land lines that help the Lovie & (insert his wife’s name here) Smith Foundation for who knows what? Well, I’m not exactly enlightened with their Internet service.
So there it is.
