Birds' Eye View

Billy and I had some excitement tonight. As I was making dinner and he was eating his, a bird flew in the open door and promptly scared the crap right out of me.

There is a small ledge above the door that leads to the backyard that the birds seem to love. I guess it missed it's ledge and just came straight in. After my initial shock I began running through solutions as to how to get it out of my house. A pillow case? A bucket? A fishing net would have been the best, but needless to say, I don't have one of those. It flew back and forth from the living room to the kitchen several times before it perched itself on top of the cupboard. Great. It was now comfortable.

I know it isn't a bat (THANK GOD) so I felt like it might be attracted to the light. I turned off all the lights in the living room and kitchen and just left the light on in the back yard. It worked. Within seconds he found the door and flew out. Phew...In the interim I managed to text Hitch with my dilemma asking for his advice.

His advice--'open the window and play music'...WTF???

Stick to coaching hockey players and leave critter control to me, okay ;)

Our first night together

Billy and I had a very good first night. My plan is to crate train him so putting him in a little box without his brothers and sister's to cuddle up to was a big change for him.

He started whining initially, but it literally only lasted 5 minutes or less. I had put a warm pack in there for him to cuddle up with and before I knew it, he was out like a light. I am not sure what surprised e more, the fact that he was so quiet so quickly or that his crying didn't make me want to immediately take him out and cuddle him up. Instead, I stood strong and was willing to endure any amount of whining he could dish out. Maybe I have more dog whisperer in me than I thought.

I woke up around 4 am and he was still quiet. I half expected him to wake up and want to go for a pee in the night, but he didn't. It was me who was more anxious to have him wake up. I dozed until about 5 am when I heard him stirring. He was ready to get up so I took him out and cuddled him up. He was very happy to see me and feeling extra cuddly so I spent some time with him giving him some love. I was very aware that his little (or so I am learning, not so little) bladder was probably full so I took him outside for a pee. He was still pretty wired, but he eventually struck the pose and let it go. He pee'd on the cement slab which then ran into his back foot...I have to train him to pee on the rocky area surrounding the slab so it soaks in and doesn't get on him...I bet he hates that. After he pee'd I praised him like crazy again--I love it when his little ears go back and he gets all schnoogly.

We played with his ball and his little cow toy for awhile (so cute) and then spent some more time outside where he then went #2 (I know, right?). Shortly after he was pooped out and just wanted up. He curled up on my lap and started shivering as we were outside. We moved into the living room where he fell fast asleep. So far, he is everything I could have wanted.

Introducing...

"Billy"

Well, today I had had enough. I was starting to drive myself crazy with thinking about getting a little buddy, and I believe I was starting to drive others crazy with talking about it so I finally decided to do it. I drove to Ontario and picked out a little cute p'tootie to call my own. It was a hard decision between the two puppies, but essentially I went with the recommendation of 'Pamela' and chose the guy who was her favorite. Billy was also the biggest of the remaining puppies, so he is a little chubby thing but so lovable. He and his brother were both very playful and friendly, but in the end, I am happy with my choice.

Billy was a bit stressed out on the car ride home, but settled down for a sleep for about a half an hour. Once he woke up, he seemed to get nervous again and began to pant. Before I knew it, he was barfing all over my arm. Fortunately I had a towel down and most of the remaining ended up on the towel. I pulled over at a truck stop where the noise of the freeway completely freaked him out and he quickly huddled under the car. Poor guy. I got him back in the car and settled down for another nice long nap. We drove for about another hour before woke up and spewed the remaining of his days intake of food onto the new towel. Poor little guy.

I had to make a quick stop at Petmart before we got home so he would have a bed to sleep in tonight. He was completely freaked out in there as well and basically clung to me the whole time. Finally we got home and I put him in the garage. He whined just a little bit, before he decided to walk into the house. This is all very new to him so he was walking very cautiously. Before long he was following me anxiously from room to room and sniffing everything he could along the way.

It only took about a half an hour before he seemed to calm down and loosen up. While I was showing him to my sister on 'Skype' he even started to show me love for the first time. I was delighted and it was heartwarming. We put his bed together and got things more situated and as I am typing this, he took his first #2 outside. I praised him like there was no tomorrow for that one (he did already have one accident in the house, but cut the guy some slack, I don't think he ever felt carpet before).

It feels really natural to have him around. He has been snooping around in the back yard, eating every leave that he can find. I bought him a couple of balls and a chew toy to play with for now. I have a feeling this one is going to be pretty spoiled.

He is sitting next to me on the outdoor couch digging around like there is food in there so I think I will cuddle him up some before he goes to bed.

Day 1:

barfed on twice
I think he might have pee'd on me
Pee'd on the carpet
Pooped outside

All in all, a good start to our friendship!

On the verge

I have been thinking about getting a puppy for several months, but the thoughts became more vivid over the past few days and I am right on the cusp of driving over and looking at some little cutie p'tooties.

First I contemplated breeds. It was going to be either a Pug or a Shi-tzu.











They are both so adorable.

I initially thought a Shi-tzu because they don't shed and I like that idea, but then I thought about the grooming. I spend the bare minimum amount of time grooming myself day in and day out, and I hate blow drying my hair so the thought of blowdrying someone else's is repulsive. So I conclued that it will be a pug. Sure they shed, but there is virtually no grooming and I am much better with a lint brush than a set of clippers.

In the past I have always travelled far too much to even think about having a puppy, but now I am travelling less, but still alone a lot of the time. I started to think that having a little buddy around would be great company and very manageable when it comes to going on the road. I can either bring him with me or put him in a boarding house for a week or so when I am gone.

My friend (whose name will remain anonymous--lets call her 'Mik' brought up a good point regarding how many things I have delayed in my life because of my career and just how much longer am I willing to delay things that are more than manageable? I think she is right and I am in a position now that I could certainly manage a puppy.

I have never had to think about anyone about myself before so suddenly bringing a dependent into my life is a bit stressful. For so many years all I had to do was get myself ready and head out the door. With a little guy in tow, I would have to consider other factors for the first time. As my friend 'Mik' said, it isn't like I am overtaxed mentally though so I should have the mental capacity to manage this element as well. She made, yet another, valid point that if I was the lady with octuplets, she would advise against me getting the dog. That 'Mik' is a smart cookie.

Talking with Hitch about it, he is on board but thinks I should wait until after his season is finished. I have a little spurt of travel coming up and it might just be easier to wait until that is all finished with before I go ahead and get the little guy. My heart is saying 'get him', but my head is saying 'wait'.

I am torn for sure, but I can't stop thinking about it. It is very tempting, but I think I will wait...well, that is what I am thinking at this very moment...2 hours from now I could be in the car heading to pick up a little friend.

The boys pulled it off.

500!!

With a 4-3 shootout victory in Toronto, Hitch reached the fantastic milestone.

I am so proud of him. Apparently Michael Peca presented him with the puck with a had a little speech for him. The team cheered loudly for the big man which makes me feel a little goosebumpy.

Congratulations my friend...and here is to many, many more.

Here is another good article on Hitch.

Just one more

My best buddy in the whole world is one win away from joining a list that only 12 people in all of the hockey world is a part of. With a win tomorrow versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, he would reach 500 career wins. This is impressive for many reasons, but the fact that he has only been coaching in the NHL since late 1996, makes it all the more impressive.

I never think that Hitch gets enough credit for the work that he does as a coach. I met him towards the end of his tenure in Dallas after they won the cup, but I never paid much attention to his team other than watching the standings. After he went to Philly, I became an avid follower and have since turned into the self appointed assistant TO the head coach, GM, assistant coaches, and scouting staff. You could say I am a wee bit obsessed. In the time I have watched his teams develop, he has turned average players into good ones and good players into great ones. He has taken a pure goal scorers in Mike Modano, Simon Gagne and Rick Nash and turned them into world class two way players.

He is known to be very demanding and relentless but I don't see that demanding side of him. I do, however, see the relentless side. I see a guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team be as prepared as they can be and willing to spend as many hours as necessary to do it. No stone goes unturned and no player gets off the hook.

I often get angry when other coaches are mentioned in the media over and above Hitch when I know he is a superior coach to them. I rant and rave and write letters and vent and Hitch's response is always: 'It's okay Cor, that stuff doesn't matter to me'. Well it matters to ME! I want him to get the props he deserves because there is nobody more keen and determined to raise the level of his teams' play than him. Not only do they improve, but they improve dramatically. Hitch has an ability to get a level of play out of players that they had never seen before, and often do not see again once they go separate ways. One or two players, that would be a coincidence, but the list of players to do this under Hitch is as long as the final minute of play when trying to protect a one goal lead--you know how long THAT minute can feel!

There were two excellent articles written on him today and I wanted to post them here:

The Hockey News article and the one from the Columbus Dispatch.

I am so proud of Hitch and the Jackets this year. I want nothing more than for the Jackets to make the playoffs and turn a few heads, but if it doesn't work out that way, I love how people are starting to take notice of the work he is doing. He is quietly going about his business, and for the first time ever, the Blue Jackets are relevant and will be for a long time.

Don't take no guff

I am down to 8 toenails.

For the last couple of days the toenail on the right foot was ready for the taking, and as much as I could pry it up and nearly off, it was just hanging on by the corners. See here:



Tonight I had enough and worked my magic. Again, I was afraid that if I pulled too hard that it would pull it off prematurely and leave me in some kind of weird nail-bed kind of pain and blood that I didn't need to deal with.

Here is the old nail:


Pretty nice eh? If you look closely at the lower left corner you will see that there is a shred of skin that it was using to hang on.

There was a lot more 'guff' under this toenail than the other one--have a look at this:

I know, right? Gross. That 2nd toe really is tall, eh? Amazing that it isn't the one that got jammed.

Once I cleaned it all off, however, somehow it doesn't look as strange as the other one did. Perhaps it is because I am used to it now, but regardless it isn't as weird: See for yourself (there is still a bit of 'guff' on the nailbed that I couldn't get off. It will probably come off in the shower):


...and the pair of them:

...and all 10 of them:


Oh and sis, this one's for you...I almost forgot...


The underside...:)

Awwwww, thanks ;)

I was relaxing on the couch when I heard a knock on my door. It was a delivery girl and she came with this:

So cute...Thanks Hitch!!!

Not even close to being a twig

Remember this guy:




Take note of his stubby little tail.

Yesterday I was walking into my house from the garage, and at the door I noticed a little stick on the carpet that sits at the entry. It had been there for a couple of days and I never thought too much of it other than: I should maybe wash this rug, and would proceed to step over top of it.

Yesterday, however, I was on my cell phone and I hung out just outside the door before going in because my cell doesn't work great inside. I stopped and stared at the 'twig' for a bit only to realize it wasn't a twig at all. It was my little buddy's TAIL!!!



What the heck happened? Did I accidentally and unknowingly step on this guys' tail while walking out the door? If not, then how did it get there? Was he mad at me for shutting up his hole and he delivered me a little reminder?

I don't really recall that thing being there for any length of time so I guess an explanation could be that when the wind picked up the other day, it got blown onto the rug.

If that ISN'T the case, I better watch my back--who knows what other reptile buddies he has rallied and what they are plotting.

To Juice or Not to Juice

Just recently it has been revealed that superstar baseball player Alex Rodriquez (A-Rod) tested positive in 2003 for steriod use. It was at a time, in baseball, that there was no penalty for failing such a test. Clearly steroid use will not make a poor player into a good one, but with improved strength it can enhance his ability to run, hit and defend. Steroid use is deemed to give a unfair advantage and have since been banned from baseball.

My teammates and I are facing a similar moral dilemma. To 'juice or not to juice'. Recently, with a great deal of pride and excitement, we created a new franchise called 'The Blackout Kings'. Things started okay for the most part as we maintained a .500 record. This past weekend, however, things took a very bad turn for our young franchise. "KCBoyd" and I went on a 10 game losing streak. Losing one or two is fine and is somewhat expected, losing 3 or 4 in a row gets annoying, and when we got to the 5 or 6 game losing streak it became a matter of: we aren't quitting until we win a game. Well, guess what, we shut it down before we won and after we lost 10 straight.

The problem is not that we suck. Quite the contrary, we are quite good. In fact, at one time we were in Division 9 (with our old team) and were about 40 games above .500. That was until the "99 glitch" came to surface.

The '99 glitch' is a way to exploit the game which allows you to boost all of your attribute points to capacity--99 points. With your shot accuracy and speed at 99 and your foot speed equally as high it is nearly impossible for 'non-juicers' to catch you and it once you blow past the mere mortals, it is rare that you would ever miss the net or not be able to deke out the goalie.

One can spot a 'juicer' often on the rate at which he can skate both with and without the puck and your inability to check him off the puck. We are to the point with our club team that if we suspect juicers we will quit within the first 5 minutes so as to not incur the loss. The juicers, however, are now playing 'normal' through the first 5 minutes of the game so the opposition doesn't quit and then they light you up after that.

All four team members were online last night and the slaughter-fest continued. It has now gotten to the point where it isn't even fun anymore. A game which the four of us really enjoyed playing both alone and together has been spoiled. In the past it seemed that 1 out of every 4 game were juicers, but now it seems that 1 in every 10 games are clean players.

A suggestion to 'juice' last night was initially scoffed by me, but I am having second thoughts. Afterall, it is just a video game and the point is to enjoy it, right? It isn't enjoyable in the state that it is in at this point, so in order to level the playing field and possibly enjoy the game again, one must juice to keep up, right?

Fortunately there is no random drug testing performed by EA Sports, and it seems as though more and more people are 'juicing' so why not right? Is it a moral issue when it pertains to a video game?

I would imagine KC Boyd, Thresher559, and Gasmask18 and I, themaker03, will be having a closed door team meeting to discuss this matter.

This one might offend

"Did you pray?"

Was a question that Katy Couric asked the Captain Sullenberger last night on 60 minutes after birds killed both of his engines. It is actually the question that provoked me to blog about his story, but I got distracted by the intensity and emotion of it all.

His response was somewhere along the lines of: 'I was busy doing the things that would actually make a difference'. Like I said, it wasn't exactly what he said but that was my interpretation.

I am sure the 155 passengers on board that plane were thankful of that as well.

The question by Katy was irritating. Did you pray? This is Katy Couric, she is a smart, articulate, well respected news anchorwomen who has interviewed some of the great leaders of the world. She was given the chance to interview the captain and crew of this flight before anyone and it was like she ran out of questions.

A lot of the survivors of this, what could have been a disaster, were thanking god. Hmmm, that is and interesting choice.

My question to those people is this: Who put the birds there in the first place?

155

Capt. Chelsey B. Sullenberger III is a hero.

This is the pilot who managed to safely land the US Airways flight into the Hudson River and all 155 passengers survived. All 155.

His poise and composure has me in awe. In fact, his composure is causing me to lose mine. This is a story that is beyond comprehension. I am sure everyone is aware of the details of what happened, but to hear the story from the man who was in charge is riveting.

I have always joked that it isn't dying that I am afraid of, it is the couple minutes before when I know I am about to kick it that kind of bothers me a bit. I simply cannot think of anything worse than being aboard an airplane that is about to crash. To come out of this scenario unscathed is beyond comprehension. 155.

Things could have very easily gone so terribly wrong, but he landed in a manner that everyone was saved. In 1996 an Ethiopian plane was hijacked and the attempted water landed ended in disaster with 125 of 175 passengers being killed. 155.

He had to make sure the plane was level, the speed was correct (without the use of any thrust from the engines), that his nose was up an appropriate amount and, oh yeah, make an announcement to the passengers. The landing was hard, but exactly as planned. 155.

The most emotional part of the segment was when the crew got to meet the 155 passengers, and their families, that they helped save. Not only did the passengers thank them, but the husbands, wives and kids of the surviving passengers will be forever grateful. 155.

This man made a miraculous landing with only 2 people being injured in the least, yet he wonders every day what he could have done better. Talk about holding yourself to a high standard.

Captain Sullenberger, you were perfect. Absolutely perfect.

155

It DID happen!!

The jackets weathered another storm by beating the might San Jose sharks 3-2 in overtime in front of a sold out crowd. Apparently, the place went nuts...not near as crazy as I went I am sure. I screamed, jumped, and then in a few seconds of watching the replay, a tear came to my eye. I was soooo happy for the win, soooo happy for the kid Lacosta to get a win in his first ever NHL start and soooo happy for Backman who scored the goal. There isn't a more unlikley game winning goal scorer than Christian Backman. That was HUGE.

Lacosta was the first star last night and after the stars are announced the first star gets interviewed on the bench. Hitch said he was out there blabbing away like 'war and peace' to the interviewer. The kid was soaking it up and I am so happy for him. A dream come true for sure.

Lacosta will be in the net again on Tuesday to face a hungry and desperate Colorado Avalanche team who have lost 5 of their last 6. It is a big inter-conference game and 2 points (as it stands right now) would vault the jackets to inside the playoff picture.

My favorite days are the non-game days after they win. I can enjoy the memory of the win without having to stress about the upcoming game. Let's hope they pull it off on tuesday and that Mason continues to get rested and feel better soon.

Who have you been kissin'???

The jackets are in trouble.

Around the start of the new year, the jackets endured a rash of injuries that they were able to stay afloat. 7 regulars were out of the lineup, but the kids and the role players stood strong and we weathered the storm largely because of strong defensive play and league leading goaltending.

Last week, however, the jackets received some of the worse news of the season since Brassard was deemed out for 6 months. Young Steve Mason has been diagnosed with mononucleosis--also known as 'the kissing disease'.

He felt tired, but most just thought it was due to his workload and his first NHL season. It wasn't until his fatigue was still a factor only one game after the all-star break did the jackets suspect it could be something more. Sure enough, mono.

Because our goaltending situation was already difficult with Leclaire being on the long term injured reserve list, a need for a reliable backup became paramount. The only problem was, that there were no NHL goalies to be had. So when Wade Dublewicz was signed by the Islanders and the jackets nabbed him on re-entry waivers. The only problem with 'Dubi' is that he is very small, so small, in fact that he can practically skate under the crossbar without ducking, AND that he was let go from his russian league contract for...well, kind of sucking. We were desperate so we got him, never once thinking we would encounter the difficulties that we are now faced with.

Now that it is apparent that Mason is entering his full-blown mono-related symptoms, Dubi has to be the guy and last night vs. the Pens, we all saw why he couldn't cut it in the Russian league.

Today, however, Dubi showed up to the rink looking terrible and had the flu. We are back to our 4th string goalie in the net vs. a very high powered San Jose Sharks team. Yes sis, the 33 minuter is back. (Has played all of 33 minutes in the NHL). Dan Lacosta will play tonight.

What a shame...the jackets have, no doubt, pissed away too many points to mention, been screwed out of at least 2 by the league, but they have stayed right in the hunt for their first playoff birth regardless.

Finally we get a bright spot in Steve Mason and he kisses one too many pretty girls and now he can't stay awake.

I am not a religious person to say the least but I can't help but to feel tested in a time like this. At this point, all you can hope is that the team, yet again, finds a way to stay in the hunt until Mason gets his strength back. In the meantime, I am still going to cheer hard and hope for the best. As this season has proven already: anything can happen.

Go speed racer

Most folks who are in wheelchairs are in there because they have limited or no use of their legs, right. Well on that same drive to my class on Thursday (after I saw the tandem bike) I saw another ridiculous thing.

There was a man who was probably in his late 60's in a wheelchair propelling himself down the sidewalk with his legs. Now, I have seen that before where someone has used their feet to move here or there, but this guy was motoring! There is no doubt that if he was standing, he would have been running. At first glance I thought that there must be someone pushing him from behind but nope. It was only him, he was solo and he was going places.

Of course, my immediate thought was: what does he need the wheelchair for if his legs can operate that well? Then my sister, the ever sensible one says: maybe he needs the chair because he gets woozy when he stands up? Maybe. If that is the case then why is he out alone? He wasn't close to anything either, not super close anyway. He was on the sidewalk that lines the major highway that runs through the desert, the same sidewalk that you rarely see anyone walking on.

I don't think that a wheelchair should be restricted for use by people who have NO ability to use your legs, but come on, if this was an Olympic sport, the guy would have been on the podium.

Speaking of the every day wheelchair, this is one piece of equipment that hasn't really changed or advanced with technology has it. Now, they have certainly improved the wheelchairs that get used for sports an so on, but the ones you see every day are about the same. You would think that they would be able to come up with something that doesn't look so freaky.

That would be the day

On the way to my 'Kinesthetic Awareness' class today, 4 cyclists whizzed by me while I slowed for a light. It was 4 cyclists, but only 3 bikes. That's right, one of the bikes was a tandem bike. If I knew how to make an emoticon that rolled it's eyes, I would.

It was a group of elderly folks all suited up in the appropriate cycling gear: spandex/padded shorts, cycling shirt, clipless pedals, the works. These people were hardcore. This wasn't a joy ride by the group, this was their workout and they were going for it.

Maybe it is the control freak in me, but I don't get the tandem bike thing. My question is what is the point? Not only is cycling about the workout, but often it is about the scenery. On a tandem bike all you see is someone's back, and worse yet, their rump. Now, the blockage of scenery is one thing, but it is a minor reason why I wouldn't be caught dead on one of those bikes.

I once dated this guy (Mark) who rented a Harley and wanted us to go on a day trip with his friend. The night before the supposed day trip we took about a 20 mile ride to get used of the motorbike. There I was, perched on the back like some useless prop. My job? To hang on and crane my neck from one side or the other so I could see something. It didn't take me the full 20 mile test drive to figure it out, because within the first mile I realized that I wanted no part of that day trip. I couldn't think of anything more boring. At least when you drive a motorbike there can be some excitement that comes from the speed and the thrill of excitement, but to sit back of a motor bike with the noise and the wind and not have any control? Forget it. I stayed home and did laundry, and he went.

They came back 9 hours later and nearly frozen to death because they didn't factor in that the 'scenic' route is scenic because it goes through the mountains. They got snowed on! hahaha, what a dumbass. Not much of a surprise that that relationship didn't go anywhere.

Now, take away the speed, the thrill of danger and the absence of control and you are on a tandem bike. What is the point? Why would you want to be on that back of that? What if you want to go faster than the front person can pedal? What if the back person wants to go left and you want to go right? What if the back person wants to hit the brakes, but all they have is these makeshift 'handlebars' that don't do anything but provide a place to grip? Why bother making the 'handlebars' in the back look the same as the ones in the front?

The front person is the guy who drives the bus and ultimately has control over everything, why not take out the handlebars in the back and make something really comfortable like a tabletop where they could plant a book and have a spot to put a nice cold drink or maybe they could put their head down for a snooze. They can't see anything anyway, so they might as well read a book or a magazine while on the way. They have those clip on shoes so they don't have to think about that, they can just let their legs churn up and down with the action of the front guy. If the front guy gets to do everything, he might as well have to do most of the work too.

Is the point of the tandem bike the togetherness and unity for a couple? To become united and work as a team? Will this kind of exercise help a couple come together when they are off the bike and dealing with the in's and out's of a marriage? Maybe this is a better answer for marriages than counselling. In fact, it could serve as a dual benefit since 50% of marriages end in divorce and 62% of americans are overweight, you could address two major issues with a simple bike ride through the park.

Of course if it were my parents on the tandem bike the murder rate would go up by at least one.