Off-topic: Oh Happy Day!

Dear Gentle Readers,

It's almost over! 

My ID theft and fraud case is almost complete. I just need to call my credit company on Monday and tell them they're off by at least $10 of refund to me, but it's done.

Whew!

In the wise words of Wayne: Game on!

Enjoying the weekend just a little - all right, a lot - more now,

Flyers.Femme

-

Got Nothing

Miracle do still happen, Gentle Readers!

No, I'm not talking about Lake Placid. I'm dealing with something that induces much more fear than a 1980 USSR hockey team.

Citi has managed to - finally! - receive one of my five attempts to provide them with the information related to my identity theft and fraud case. Because my bank - good old Wachovia - is so proactive about resolving these crimes, my life should be almost back to normal by the end of the week.

Always assuming it doesn't take five tries for Citi to receive and process that paper work.

You know what that means? Nothing to distract me from being a faithful Flyers fan, listening to and watching games with no real-life drama and trauma. (Discounting the sucky economy.)

It means I can buy a beer and a pretzel at this Saturday's game and not worry about it.

Thank God for Tuesdays!
Flyers.Femme
-

Off-topic: Whew!

Dear Gentle Readers,

I'm back! The Nevada side of the Tahoe area was beautiful and my business trip was blessed with good weather on the way out, while I was there, and returning today.

My major chore for today: Get some sleep! Because...

Tomorrow, I have to be up extra, special early to get down to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, drop off my remaining donations, and pick up my 2008 AIDS Walk Philly T-shirt and sweatshirt around 7:30 a.m.

The walk starts at 9:00 a.m. from Eakins Oval in front of the museum. I'll post some sort of update and a photo or two from the walk.

Sunday update

I made it, I'm still alive! Sorry, no photos, but here are the highlights:

• Total donations I raised: $586
• Total raised for the walk by all participants: Just under $500,000
• Total I walked: 12K (8.4 miles)
• Time elapsed: 3 hours
• Swag (or handsome reward): 2008 AIDS Walk Philly 500 club sweatshirt, size M
• Aches and pains: Just a little in my left foot and behind both knees
  
• Reflection: I'm doing this next year, no matter what!
  

Off-topic: 12K

Dear Gentle Readers,

I've taken on the challenge and made a commitment to participate in the 2008 AIDS Walk Philly on October 19.

I am very passionate about this cause for personal reasons. My participation in the walk not only expresses that concern, it also has a positive impact on the lives of more than 30,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the greater Philadelphia region (and countless others around the country and the world).

I've set a modest goal to raise $500 for this year's walk. (I'd love to raise more!) I hope you will consider making a donation to support my personal effort. If you can't make a monetary contribution, I encourage you to volunteer with an HIV/AIDS-related charitable organization in your area.

You can make a secure online donation through my participant page here.

And in Hockey Blog News...

Flyers.Femme blog turned one yesterday!

Yep, scary as that is, I've been laughing, ranting, and poking harmless fun in this space for 366 days. Whew!

*Cracks knuckles, shakes out the arms, and gets ready for another one*

100 Things: The End

Hockey News

Mats Sundin spec in Philly. Yada, yada, yada.

And to conclude...

81.) I did my first CROP walk in 1982 when I was 4. That's in the good old days when it was a lot longer. 1982 was the last year my dad was able to run the event.

82.) I also participated in my first Habitat for Humanity project at 4. I was allowed to help paint the walls in the house. I actually did a good job of it and that started my love affair with interior painting.

83.) Too bad I can't paint the walls in my apartment. Even though I know how to paint them any color and put them back to the original, my building would keep the security deposit. Yeesh!

84.) Although I talk a lot about finding a new apartment, I'm not likely to do it. I have a two-bedroom apartment at a ridiculously low rent that includes most of my utilities. I'm 10 miles from Center City, with multiple public transportation options, and in a good, residential neighborhood.

85.) My favorite mode of transportation is the train. I commute into Center City on SEPTA's Regional Rail. When I go to my parents', I use Amtrak and the DC Metro.

86.) Since moving to Philadelphia, I make a point of going to the Philadelphia Flower Show each March. It's the world's largest indoor flower show. If you like flowers, landscaping, and creative art created with plants, you should come to Philly and see it!

87.) My friend T always wants me to go with her to karaoke. She does a great job, but I don't really enjoy it. Maybe it's just the location I don't like?

88.) I am fascinated by negotiating communication-related barriers. I like learning about intercultural (cross-cultural or multicultural, if you prefer) issues. I've started studying intergenerational ones.

89.) I recognize that I will be the worst mom ever when I have kids. There are too many times when I'm out and I'm ready to correct bad behavior that parents never address with their kids.

90.) I intend to be a foster parent, with an eye toward adopting at least one child. With no disrespect to people who adopt children from other countries, I just wish more qualified people were willing to adopt one of the more than 100,000 foster children who are cleared for adoption in the U.S.A.

91.) Michael Phelps is great and all, but my favorite swimmer of all time is Lenny Krayzelberg.

92.) My other favorite Summer Olympians: Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner Kersee, and Flo Jo.

93.) In terms of Winter Olympians, my favorites are Johann Olaf Koss, Bonnie Blair, and Alexei Yashin.

94.) Favorite hockey-related movies: Slap Shot; Cutting Edge (toe pick!); Mystery, Alaska; and Miracle.

95.) Unlike what sometimes seems like 99% of the people in my country, I do not watch American Idol. I've only ever seen one show, it was in the first season, and I knew Kelly Clarkson would win by the end of that episode. I haven't cast a vote for anyone on it ever.

96.) On the other, I do vote in political elections...including the primaries.

97.) I feel no remorse over my iced coffee each weekday because it's not like the caffeine can stunt my growth any further and I don't blow my paycheck on very many extravagances.

98.) One day, I'm going to have one of these. Y'know, when I'm all grown-up!

99.) I truly believe that I can be whatever I want to be. I just don't care about work for anything other than enabling me to spend more time doing fun things with my family and friends.

100.) I am in training and raising funds for the the 12K AIDS Walk Philly. (More to come on that in a future post.)

100 Things: Fourth Installment

Hockey News

Hey, imagine that! We're keeping John Stevens as the Flyers head coach.

Not Hockey-Related in the Slightest

Well, beyond the fact that you're learning some more about me.

61.) Much as I do not like the title, I am a member of Generation X. I'm actually fine with being a part of this crew. I'm not a slacker, I'm not a whiner, I'm not materialistic, and I work just as hard as those Traditionalists and Baby Boomers. It's just that there's more to life than the job.

62.) I am addicted to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. However, with limited bookshelves, I wait for them to come out in paperback before buying.

63.) Additional favorites are anything by Langston Hughes, Julio Cortazar, Deidre Martin, Rachel Gibson, and Lori Foster.

64.) I love most types of music. The only thing I really try to avoid at all costs is country. I will make exceptions for Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline.

65.) I am currently addicted to Julieta Venegas and Gotan.

66.) Every holiday season, I get stuck in an angry rock' n' roll phase. Cue The Clash. Read more.

67.) I cannot work in silence. The lack of sound drives me batty. I play one of the stations on batanga.com at work when I'm not timing audio to the e-learning modules I design.

68.) I have a co-worker who thinks I should fix my tax withholding so that I don't get such a large return each year. Unfortunately, I know that I will never save that quantity of money on my own; it's so nice that the government gives it back each year. (Know your faults, folks, and accommodate for them!)

69.) I moved so frequently growing up that I feel funny if I stay in one location too long. If I re-sign my lease, that'll be four years in one place. My internal reaction is "Yikes!"

70.) Reality shows are not my thing. I do watch "Dancing with the Stars" and I like to watch "What Not to Wear" when I visit my parents (who have satellite service).

71.) I like kids and work well with them. I guess that's what made me such a good camp counselor. (And I really miss doing that during the summers!)

72.) Though I don't follow astrology, I do place a bit of stock in Myers-Briggs. I am an ENFP.

73.) On the other hand, there are days where I just want everyone to leave.me.alone.

74.) I really have to be in the mood to clean. I use it for stress-relief, so if my apartment is too neat, well, y'know.

75.) My other favorite thing to do when I'm working through a problem is shredding. I love running my shredder. Bzzzzzzzt.

76.) I make a mean bahklava!

77.) I prefer comedies when I go to the movies. I absolutely can't do horror or movies that have too much blood-and-guts.

78.) When I'm not exerting my creative writing muscles here on the blog, I write a quarterly e-newsletter at my job.

79.) One of my short stories was published in my college's annual review of student works. When I was in Ecuador, my Latin American Short Story prof - who is a published author himself - picked some of my short stories for a showcase there, too.

80.) I wrote for the yearbook three years in high school. But not the paper.

100 Things: ¡Otra Ronda!

Hockey News

What's that? I have no idea why you're looking for hockey-related news. Everyone knows that sports news in Philadelphia revolves around birds and a Phanatic at this time of year.

*Fervently praying* Please, God, make it stop! Bring hockey back. I need to learn about the new guys first-hand. I must find out if Hatch is a keeper for another season. I'm trying to find the good side to acquiring Asham; I know I'll understand more when you reveal him to me

Getting to Know All about...Me!

41.) If I could wear what I wanted to work, you'd never see me out of jeans, a Tshirt or sweater, and boots or sneakers (cooler v. warmer temps). But you can't really wear that to work when your job is in the financial district.

42.) When it comes to work clothes, I wear a lot of black. If there were such a style as "wear-to-work goth," I might just be its poster-child. (No scary black lipstick, though.)

43.) Although I'm a Flyers fan, I do not wear a lot of orange. I don't own more than about four orange pieces of clothing, and two of them were give-away Tshirts from last season.

44.) I don't like heights and snakes scare the h-e-double hockey sticks out of me!

45.) Remember I said I'm a P.K.? Well, I do know my four letter words, in two languages no less. And, yes, unfortunately, I do use them occasionally. (Just not as much as a cross between yapper extraordinaire Sean Avery and F-bomb pro Cindy Crosby.)

46.) I passionately dislike grocery shopping and lawn care. I'm not pushing for a husband, but it'd be nice to have one who will do these two chores.

47.) 'Cause I'll exchange those two for cleaning all the bathrooms and kitchens, and snow-shoveling you want!

48.) My favorite flowers are tulips. I love to buy them in various colors.

49.) I buy them because I'm not a green thumb. With my propensity to kill green things, I believe future plant purchase will have to be succulents.

50.) When I took an online IQ test, my result was "facts curator." Basically, I am a storehouse of stupid, random facts. A detail comes my way, gets stuck in the brain, and good luck having it go away. (My dad is the same way.)

51.) I am also a natural mimic. I pick up accents easily, whether I want to or not. When I was a camp counselor in college, I entertained a bunch of 8, 9 and 10 year olds with this and a song from The Lion King...dinner was late and I prevented their riot.

52.) Also when I worked as a camp counselor, I was American Red Cross certified for first aid (good for 3 years) and CPR (good for 1). Both are expired now, but in an emergency that facts curator knowledge could kick in and save your life.

53.) When I was a reservation center operator, in the slow season, one of my co-workers brought in the cards from the Battle of the Sexes board game. We'd take turns answering the questions according to the rules (women answer questions most guys know and vice versa). I answered too many questions right, they switched me to answering the opposite ones, same thing happened, and I was banned from answering. Instead, I got to read the cards.

54.) I am a Flyers fan. In every other major team sport, I am a Cleveland fan because that's the area where I grew up. In college sports, it's Ohio State or Ohio.

55.) I've lived through a startling number of natural disasters. Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Blizzards. Lots of tornadoes. Imminent volcanic eruption (and really teeved that I missed it).

56.) I am a Dunkin Donuts fan. Sorry, Starbucks.

57.) I don't have any tattoos, unlike my brothers who each have them. I change my mind too frequently about what I want, and tattoos are too permanent.

58.) I don't handle pain like a normal person. It's not that I don't feel it, I just have a higher threshold and better coping mechanisms. That can be problematic when seeking treatment because medical professionals always ask, "On a scale of 1 to 10, how much does it hurt?" My answer: Your pain scale or mine?

59.) I love both the Winter and Summer Olympics. In fact, I miss having them in the same year.

60.) But since they're separated now, and I love the Olympics so much, I believe the world should take a two-week vacation when they happen. (Well except for the TV crews, who should have another two weeks off at a later date.)

100 Things: Segunda Parte

Second Installment

More of more than you ever wanted to know about Flyers.Femme:

21.) My not-so-guilty pleasure on TV: Hockey, of course!

22.) Hockey ticket preference: PDF. Print it out and take it to the game. I use the reverse for game notes to write my singular posts.

23.) My guilty pleasure on TV: Telenovelas. Totally addicted since 1998.

24.) I wear SPF 75 sun block every day. I have fair skin. I do not tan; I burn. Skin cancer is not cute.

25.) Two things you can always find in my fridge: Water and cranberry juice.

26.) I can't eat milk chocolate. The mix is too sweet. Long live dark chocolate!

27.) My favorite food isn't limited to one country. I like Latin American dishes, whether it's enchiladas with mole sauce (Mexico), tostones (Cuba/Domincan Republic/Puerto Rico), or empanadas (Colombia).

28.) Favorite beers: Shiner Bock. (Yes, that means I've been to Texas. San Antonio, if you must know.) Mad Elf Holiday Ale. (A Christmas beer made in Pennsylvania. I'll be serving it at my annual holiday open house from now on.)

29.) I like to cook. I don't like to cook meat.

30.) I love ice cream. My favorite flavor was a limited edition Haagen Dasz flavor: Mayan Chocolate. I wish they'd make it again.

31.) I can’t wait for summers to be over. I like to run to stay in shape, but the heat and humidity trigger my exercise-induced asthma. (Bring on the fall, winter, and spring, baby!)

32.) I can't run on a treadmill. Short though I may be, I never feel that I can kick to my full stride on one of them. I am forced to jog. Ugh!

33.) I love to skate. One of these days, I’m going to screw up my nerve and give speed-skating a try. Then, when it’s too icy to run in sneakers, I can “run” in skates.

34.) I only learned how to drive an automatic car in driver’s ed. The family car was stick-shift.

35.) I live in Philadelphia and do not have a car.

36.) If you follow astrology - which I don't - I am a Gemini and an Earth Horse. According to my friend who does follow it, that explains a lot about me. *shrug*

37.) I don't like Ice Girls. They don't do anything for me. No rant.

38.) My brother Eli, the former goalie, doesn't really care for them either. Don't mess with his crease after he sets it up the way he wants it, or risk being checked.

39.) I believe owning one of the pink jerseys and wearing it for occasions other than cancer-related events automatically pushes you over the line to "puck bunny." Your team has real colors, wear them.

40.) Of course, that may just be the fact that I don't like pink talking.

100 Things: Part the 1st

Hockey Bits

Okay, so Craig Berube is the new Flyers assistant coach, and John Paddock is the new Phantoms head coach. Wow, actual hockey news.

When does training camp start again?

Not So Hockey-Related

As we close down the off-season, an informal "getting to know your friendly blogger" meme is making the rounds. Quite a few of the HLOGers have taken up the challenge of letting you know 100 things about ourselves. Here's my first 20 things to know about me.

1.) I am 5' 1.5" tall. Yes, that half inch is very important.

2.) Despite my lack of actual height, I have a habit of standing up straight, I wear heels most days, and - in the words of a co-worker - I carry myself well, so most people are shocked to hear I'm that short.

3.) I have naturally curly hair. It was a pain learning how to manage it growing up. These days, I just let it be and it - mostly - leaves me alone, too.

4.) In my family, I'm the oldest and the only girl.

5.) I have two younger brothers who are much taller than I. Eli, the former goalie, and Andrew, the mid-fielder and point-guard, are at least 6' 2" tall.

6.) I have never dated a guy under 6' before. I don't know why...it's not like I have a rule about it. I guess I'm just used to all the tall people in my family.

7.) I used to play violin. I still have one, so I guess I could again, but it would be one of those projects you start with the best of intentions and never quite work your way around to. (Maybe next year?)

8.) In high school, I was on the varsity teams for volleyball, indoor track and outdoor track starting my sophomore year.

9.) As a result of two facial traumas during volleyball season my senior year, I have a permanently displaced jaw. I don't have TMJ, but try getting health insurance companies to understand the difference! (It's.so.much.fun.)

10.) I am bilingual (English and Spanish).

11.) I am the only person in my family who is bilingual.

12.) I was a double major in college (International Studies and Spanish), spent my whole junior year abroad in Quito, Ecuador, and - somehow - still managed to graduate magna cum laude with 42 and 39 credits-required majors in four years. No wonder I don't want to hear tell of a master's degree!

13.) My honors thesis was titled "A Comparison of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Concepts of Zionism, 1850 - 1918." I earned a 98% for it. (I think that was the highest score for the history/poli sci crew that year. I may have been the only "girl," too. Of course, it was eight years ago, so my memory is a little fuzzy on the fine deets.) I am not ashamed to admit that it's a really boring read.

14.) Favorite course in college: Latin American Dances, while I was in Ecuador. Imagine spending a semester learning mambo, merengue, cha-cha, their histories and music, and getting a grade for it!

15.) I suck at numbers, but I rock at foreign languages. Freshman year, I had my two majors and studied Russian. I aced Russian and Spanish at the same time. I wish I could get paid to learn languages!

16.) I am a preacher's kid. Contrary to popular myth, that neither makes me a goody two-shoes nor a devil-spawn hellion. I am just a normal person who makes mistakes, acknowledges them, and tries to treat people fairly.

17.) I am a biblical non-resister. In plain English, I'm a pacifist for religious reasons. (Make no mistake: I'm still a hockey fan. It just means I won't hit you and I don't resolve conflicts through violence.)

18.) Yes, my Christian faith is important to me. No, I'm not pushy about it. It's just a part of who I am, like my naturally curly hair.

19.) I have been to Cuba...legally.

20.) I don't eat breakfast every day, or even most days. Unless an iced coffee every weekday counts, which I'm sure it doesn't.

Off-topic: Though Sorta Not

I Am a Dog Person

Cats are nice, but I, my dad, and my brother are allergic to them.

My apartment allows cats only. (I ask, what about fish, iguanas, and - shudder - snakes? Not saying that I'm getting these, but...) I've been dog-less for almost four years. It sucks!

So, this is my virtual dog*, Puck.



I mean, how could you be a hockey fan and not love a dog named Puck?


*I love Great Danes. Sure, they're huge. They're also very friendly, very funny, and total couch potatoes. Despite their size, they can be wonderful apartment dogs.

Off-topic: Yeah, Rafa!

As established by a previous post, I am an unashamed Rafael Nadal fan. So, you can look at his win today in the Wimbledon Men's Final two ways:

1. It's about time!
2. It keeps Roger Federer more interesting (read: human) when he doesn't win.

Thanks, guys, for a great match.

Yeah, Rafa! Woo-hoo!

P.S.: John McEnroe, you slay me!

Off-topic: Go Rafa! and RIP McKay

Here at Casa Flyers.Femme, I do watch other sports. Not often, because Hockey is my boyfriend, but it does happen.

The one non-hockey contest that I make time for every year is the French Open Men's Final. That's clay court tennis, y'all.

Historically, I've like the French Open because the players get dirty. Sure, they may take away some grass stains after a grass court match, but red clay is way less subtle!

However, over the last few years, my love of the French Open has narrowed to one thing: Watching Rafael Nadal - whom I love! - deny Roger Federer the Men's French Open title and, thus, his first career Grand Slam. (It's the only hardware Federer's missing, yo.)

Rafa is the best clay court player today, and possibly of all time. I lean toward "all time" status, but I feel it's unfair to stick something that onerous on someone until they're done playing and have the records to prove it like Wayne Gretzky. (How's that working out for Cindy Crosby, eh?)

Rafa's also pretty hot. In fact, HLOG sister Margee over at Sport Squee has featured him in a "Throw Your Bra At" moment after he pounded Feds last year and had a Squee-Off between the two guys. Rafa won, as well he should.

Plus, I just heard that if Federer wins tomorrow, they're ready to proclaim him as the greatest tennis player ever. I'm not arguing that he is the best, but dude already knows that and tells everyone, too. (I mean, what else could he be saying by being in a Gillette commercial with his superstar BFF Tiger Woods? Oh, and Thierry Henry, too.)

So here's hoping that the streak continues for another year. Because if you're the ATP, this is the best thing that could happen for the sport.

And now, I'll be observing silence for the remainder of the weekend in memory of the great Jim McKay. Rest in peace.

Road Trip Hiatus

Business trips during hockey season stink. Vacation I can deal with because I'm choosing to go away but I pick places where there are TV or Interweb possibilities to stay up-to-date with the Flyers and Hockey.

No such luck on this latest business trip. Thanks, IT security nazi for making it impossible to not only blog while I was away but to even fulfill my job duties. (I want hazard pay for what I'll confront in my inbox when I return to the office. Until then, I'm burying my head in the sand at home!)

On the up-shot, it's not like I really missed much. A stunning home-and-home loss to the Leafs (for crying out loud!), an OT loss to the Bruins (please tell me someone hit the Giraffe), a major blow-out suffered against the Pens (that makes up for our 8-2 pounding on them earlier in the season, right?) and a win over the Thrash (which we would not have achieved if not for Niitty).

Next up: A Good Friday match-up with the Evil blue-shirted Rangers at home. Dude, I can't even watch it...Ranger games are bad like Devils games this year. Good luck, guys! If that freakishly tall Valiquette is in the net, you're going to need it.

Going, going, gone

Image: Official Brett Favre web site

I don't much care about American Football outside Cleveland. After all, hockey is my boyfriend.

But, dudes, it's official. Brett Favre has announced his (for real this time) retirement.

Best of luck to Brett and his family in all future ventures.

Updates and Celebrations

Updates

No hockey since Saturday. No hockey until tomorrow. So here's a few bits and pieces to tide me over to then.

1. Niitty will get the start in Atlanta. Yes, Marty had his third shut-out of the season, but Antero has some sweet stats against the Thrash. (Bad boy has seven straight wins against them and made 27 saves on 28 shots in the last tilt.)

2. Lups sports a good baseline test and clear MRI. Although both tests show good resolution of the concussion and spinal contusions Joffrey sustained on January 4, doctors have not cleared him to return to the line-up until February 14 at the earliest. I'm hoping to see him in February 17's game against the Habs, just in time for Fan Appreciation Night.

3. Forsberg fodder continues. Holmgren took a scouting trip to Sweden. (Fine, fine but please get us some more Finns! I want to see an all-Finn shift on the ice.) While there, he talked with Peter Forsberg and his agent, fanning the flames on the rumor mill just a little bit more.

Either do it or don't, but, Peter, if you really want to make it up to the fans in Philly, find a way to come back without breaking our CAP or forcing us to trade anyone away. Even under those circumstances, I still wouldn't be comfortable with the message it sends.

4. Going completely off-topic: Thank you to the NY Giants! While I admire the Pats' all-for-one mentality, I'm so tired of Tom Brady. He is just so over-exposed. On the other hand, Kristin did have an interesting idea related to his penchant for dating models in a recent post.

Celebrations

1. Mike Knuble's hat-trick!

2. Marty Biron's shut-out!

3. Kristin's surrender to The Pronger Effect! (Just kidding!)

4. My 100th post!

Official (Unofficial) Points Race

As always, brought to you by moi!

Richie: 21 G + 36 A = 57 (+/- is 12)
Briere: 20 G + 30 A = 50 (+/- is -15)

I'm sooooooo enjoying this! Hee-hee.

Off-topic: Argh!

Promotion = More vacation time, which perhaps I'll use someday.

Promotion = More pressure to continue to excel at work...'cause slacking isn't an option.

Promotion = Being too effing tired to write a post!

Actually, it's just that post-holidays, back-to-the-routine routine. Meeting here. Deadline there.

I'll be back to regular posts featuring stunning insight and biting sarcasm and snark soon. In the meantime, answer the poll. I need the feedback and your vote may break my internal dead-lock.

Off-topic: Rocking out

I don't know what it is about the last two months of the year, but each year I say the same thing in November and December:

Somebody...p l e a s e...queue the loud rock music.

There's nothing less seasonally appropriate, but my craving for rock is equal to that of goals by Mike Richards - seemingly never-ending.

The names in heavy rotation on my MP3 player during the train ride into and out of Center City have a severe bent towards the Brits, but it's not an exclusive club. I also don't rule out the other types of music, but maybe I hit the skip button a little more frequently.

If I look at this from a therapist's point of view, I guess it's in counterpoint to all the not-so-cheery holiday cheer I run into on the street. (You know, parents screaming at or begging with small children who are tired and just want to go home! Yeah, kid, me too.)

Instead of falling down crying and kicking my feet, I just turn on, plug in, and rock out.

• Not sure about trekking to the Evil Empire yet again (take your pick: the mall, Macy's, Wal-Mart)? Queue up "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash.
• Ready to scream because the stilleto crew has blocked the sidewalk on your way to the train? A hit of "Go Let It Out" by Oasis should cure all that ails you.
• Just crossed another day off the calendar before you can start your holiday break, but it's not enough? Try a little "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen as you roll out the door. (Freddie Mercury, I still miss you like crazy.)

After 29.5 years of living, one thing I have learned is to indulge those of my cravings that don't endanger myself or others. Dark chocolate. Hockey.

So, here's to my 2007 Rock Fix!

Playing as I finish this post: INXS, "What You Need"

P.S.: I'm an avid reader of Margee's "Sportsquee" blog. In addition to being another one of the HLOGers, Margee has a really...uh, vivid...imagination.

That being said, she has completely out-done herself with two recent posts about some Evil Ranjuhs which I simply must share with you. (And, please, for the love of Pete, bear in mind that the second one is total fiction...so far as anyone knows.)

• This Just In: Punching Sean Avery A Team Effort
• Fly on the Wall: Inside Henrik Lundqvist's Apartment

Off-topic: A life lesson for junior male hockey fans

I like teachable moments in life. It's not often that I pull a non-hockey teachable moment onto the blog, but it is my duty as a woman to put this one out there for any mite-sized male fans.

Here's an email I received from a certain high-profile, male Caps blog author:

Hi, Kristin-

In preparing for the upcoming game between the Flyers and the Capitals, we wanted to get the perspective from "the other side." Quite simply, we'd love a one to two sentence soundbite/quote on why you think the Flyers will beat the Caps. We'll include the quote (make it as insightful/clever/snarky etc. as you wish) and a link back to your blog in our gameday preview.

As one of Sports Media Challenge's "Top 10 NHL Blogs," we recognize that blogging is all about community-building, and that's why we're trying to reach out and introduce our readers to your blog and generate some good-natured smack talk.

So if you'd like to participate, shoot an email back to us as soon as you get the chance (no later than the night before the game, if possible), and we'll see where it goes from there.

Now, if y'all pay attention to the authoring, you know that my name is Nadine. However, I was raised to be a respectful person and I went to college at a private school in the South where common courtesy reigns. So, here's my friendly, joking reply:

Uh X, I'm not Kristin.

Nadine
flyers.femme

His reply:

An excellent point, Nadine. My apologies for the prematurely sent and inaccurate email. And thanks for reinforcing the stereotype of every Philly fan! :)

Right. So even with that little smiley face, I'm confused. Why is this degenerating into stereotypes? They are inherently evil. And which stereotype does he mean? (Pardon me, but I've only lived here for three years. I'm not one of those "intimidating" Philly fans. I'm civilized, unless you count the fact that I wear Halloween colors to sporting events.)

I cannot let this go now, because my female freak-out alarm has started up. However, I must maintain that courteous tone. Here's my second reply:

Wow, X. I was just trying to point out that based on your salutation, you had contacted the wrong person.

I wasn't sure if you meant to send the message to me as well, or only to Kristin. I only wanted to let you know that you reached the wrong one of us if in fact you only wanted to write to Kristin.

That being said, good luck to your team tonight.

Nadine

Not offensive, right? His final reply:

No, no. Thanks, Nadine. I was just joshing around.

Should be a good game. I hope so anyway. The Caps really need this win.

Best,
X

Of course, I wrote back to say that so do my Flyers since we confront the evil Rangers that just killed the Caps last night. (While those overly-presumptuous Habs enjoyed wracking up a win on a Flyers team with even worse D than usual and beat the crap out of Gator's face. Please, God, we need Gagne back.)

But, back to the life lesson. It's a fundamental rule for relating to women, which I'm sure every man has learned and one which should never be forgotten:

Never, ever, under any circumstance, do you call a woman by the wrong name.

Sorry, Mr. X. I just had to make a fun post about this one! ;p

P.S.: Hell hath frozen over

Um, Y.E.A.H! I wish I still lived in Chicago...my second city is completely rocking right now. (Thank you, Denis Savard.)

Obligatory post: R.I.P. Bill Wirtz

X-posted to HLOG

(Sorry for the delay, but I went to the Flyers game last night! Woo-hoo! Live hockey just five rows in front of me or right on the other side of the plexiglass, depending on which period it was.)

I'm torn...completely conflicted internally. And like all of the other times, this will be about my second-favorite team - the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bill Wirtz died yesterday. According to many who knew him (and frequently criticized him), Bill actually loved hockey. I'd hate to see what would have happened if he hated it.

So, here's my dilemma as a feeling member of the human race:

(a) On one hand, I'm sorry for him and his family. If you didn't know, Dollar Bill died from cancer. I've had several family members and friends die from various kinds of cancer, and it's not a good way to go. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

(b) On the other, I feel like breaking out in a round of "Ding dong, the witch is dead, the wicked witch, the witch is dead, ding dong, the wicked witch is dead."

It's a cross-roads for Blackhawks fans. The heirs apparent are Peter and Rocky Wirtz. From my perspective, we have three possible outcomes:

(1) Peter and Rocky love hockey the same way as Bill, and trash it just as much...right after Sr. VP Bob Pulford has some time to work his brand of the same magic.

(2) Peter and Rocky love hockey just as much as Bill, but in a different (read: good) way and reintroduce the team to loyal fans and bring in new ones.

(3) Peter and Rocky sell the team for as much money as they can milk out of somebody who actually gives a shit for Blackhawk fans and knows how to run the team.