Disaffected and Disenchanted

That's about how I'd characterize the Flyers fan feelings toward Coach Stevens lately.

Some days, I'm fine with Johnny standing behind the bench. Other days, not so much. But I've yet to call for his head on a pike.

Folks, this post is going to ramble something fierce. I'm processing as I write, while the game is tied-up at 2 all, which is a very dangerous thing to do when you have a sports blog. Here goes.

And I'm writing this to the big guy in a suit and glasses...

Dear Coach,
You haven't publicly balled out a player for a sucky performance since December 2007.

I get that you don't want anyone to accuse you of being emo. I even respect that. But there's a time and place to just let one decompression session roll. And I think now's as good a time as any; it might accomplish some good.

Lately, everything bad is just festering. The team-building may have had the after-school special bonding element needed for plane, train, etc. trips to be less heinous than they otherwise would be. I don't think it's helped in relationship to the on-ice performance.

On paper, just like in past seasons, there's no good reason for the team to be doing what it does...namely losing and taking mental vacations. There are 60 minutes in a hockey game, and all that other trite-but-true shite.

I think the jumping off point for your speech needs to be something like, "This crap cannot continue." Fill in with whatever ammo you (or Berube) can provide thereafter. Just remind the guys that we don't like losers in Philly...especially when they're slacker-losers in our uniforms.

Hope you have a totally b*tch*n' night!

Post-Game Edit

I take it back. Something has to change.

Plans!

Okay, it's official. I'm going to do my holiday open house on December 11.

The following bloggers are invited to offset all my work peeps:

• Kristin (Eager to Go Psycho)
• Jess & Sophie (Slightly Saucy)
• KMart (Brawling for Brotherly Love)
• Ryan and Fran (Flyers Goal Scored By...)
• Any of the HLOGers

If you can make it, please shoot me an email or tweet.

Just A Little Sore

• 12 K walked
• 2 hours, 12 minutes
• $610 raised

Those are the highlights for my 2009 AIDS Walk Philly participation. Thanks to everyone who supported me with kind thoughts and generous donations.

Now, I'm off to apply a little Icy Hot to my leg and run through some stretching...

AIDS Walk Update

Dear Gentle Readers,

Yep, just one last appeal related to my AIDS Walk Philly participation.

When: I'm walking a 12K this Sunday, starting at 9:30 a.m.
My goal: Raise $600, benefits 30K+ people affected by HIV/AIDS in greater Philly
Funds needed: Just [edited] $15 dollars, as of 9:55 [edited] p.m., ET, today

If you're interested, you can donate securely online using a credit or debit card. Click on that widget at the top of the right column to access my participant page. If you're from the U.S.A., it's a tax-deductible contribution. (If not, know you're supporting a great and important cause.)

Here's hoping that there's at least okay weather on Sunday, or it'll be a cold, damp 2.5 - 3 hours' walk.

Slow Week, High Hopes

Dear Gentle Readers,

One of the main reasons this blog was so quiet over the summer was an extra special project at work: how to plan and pull off a company health fair in two months with no budget.

It can be done, and it can be done well, in that short a time. But here's what I learned from it:

• Inevitably, when this sort of special project comes along, something else that you're working on is going to get bumped up to compete with it and complicate your life.
• You're going to be so tired at the end of the day that you just want to go home, drop into bed, and go to sleep. Unfortunately, your body will not have received the "Tired!" message from your brain.
• Every logistical nightmare that could possibly occur in the final few days, will.

But here's something else we all have to learn, as cliched as it may be: don't sweat the small stuff.

Sure, it still sounds as annoying to me as "Whatever" does coming out of my Gen Xer mouth to my Boomer and Traditionalist bosses, but I can appreciate the sentiment. Sweating the small stuff just takes that much more out of you and it doesn't allow you enjoy the good moments to their fullest. Whatever, indeed.

Which leads me in a very roundabout way to the Flyers. The first loss of the season has to happen some time. Yes, it sucks that it happened against the Pens. But beyond it being a Battle of Pennsylvania game, it's not worth sweating that loss.

We're only a two weeks into the season; it's not like it's February.

The guys are finally getting their annual team-building trip underway. Here's hoping they have fun fishing and sailing in Florida.

Meanwhile, all you Phillies fans get to watch the NLDS unchallenged for a few days. Here's hoping your high hopes are realized. And, K-Mart, it's better that I stay a fan of my team, trust me.