Hockey in the South: A Perk from Winning the War of Northern Aggression?

As some of you already know, I love hockey. I love it on TV and more so in person. As long as I can see the whole sheet of ice to watch plays develop and other shenanigans that occur out of the camera’s watchful eye. But being at a game surrounded by these Nashvillian fans makes watching the game in person very interesting.

I went to Game 2 in the Stanley Cup Western Quarterfinals. Nashville Predators vs. San Jose Sharks. It was a great game to watch. The Preds won 5-2, by the way. Rivalries almost always develop during a series and this is no different. After events of Game 1 I expected this game to be a chippy and penalty riddled one. And it was.

The fans really went after the referees. Which seems to be common among sports. So, I was wondering if the fans (at least hockey fans) hate the ref’s calls because of the heat of the moment (which I tend to fall under when I don’t like a call)? Or are they just ignorant of the rules and how a referee makes calls?

It kind of irks me when I see a play develop and one player is really making a play for the puck and in the process trips his opponent and then the fans jump all over the ref. Sure, it sucks that it happened but it was a play on the puck not on the opponent’s feet. The refs have a hard enough job as it is and if he makes a mistake more than likely there will be a ‘make-up’ call. It happens. We move on. Unless a call shifts the momentum and outcome of the game. But I don’t think that happens very much in hockey in my very humble opinion.

The fights were a big deal, too. The paper here wrote a bunch about the number of penalty minutes and blah, blah, blah. The game ended with 3 pairs of players duking it out (which, as a Predators fan I’m sad to say, we lost those fights). What a better way to keep the momentum way up for the road trip! The Sharks wanted to make a statement by saying, “We may have lost but we can still kick your ass!” And the Preds may have been saying, “We won this game and we will take it to your house and kick your ass!” Hey, it’s the playoffs! And it’s hockey! That the way they roll (as the kids are want to say nowadays).

Another thing about the fans here (and probably anywhere there is a gimmick like this) chanted, “WE WANT TACOS! WE WANT TACOS!” WTF?!?! I was informed by my arena neighbor that everytime the Preds score 5 goals in a game you can take your ticket to Taco Bell to get a free taco. They may want tacos but I wanted the Preds to win more than I want a free Taco Bell taco. When I said this out loud my kind neighbor said “It’s 4-1 we got this.” Need I remind you that it was only the 2nd period and in Game 1 the Preds came from behind to tie it up ultimately losing in double OT. This is hockey! Anything can happen and when it does it happens quickly! Plus, Taco Bell tacos are pretty crappy.

**If my buddy Jeff reads this I kindly ask him to make comments on the game of hockey in my comments section. I always look to him for a different perspective on the game. Not only is he Canadien but he also used to referee in the Junior League (I believe). So, Jeff write something insightful or referee-like in the comments! Anybody else for that matter, too. What do you think?**

File Under the WTF Files

Arrest is first under homeless-feeding law – Orlando Sentinel : Orange County News

A long-simmering dispute between homeless advocates and Orlando officials intensified Wednesday with the arrest of an activist feeding transients in Lake Eola Park downtown.

Eric Montanez, 21, is the first to be arrested under the city’s
controversial ordinance that bars feeding large groups of people in downtown parks without a special permit. The rule was approved last summer after residents and businesses in
Orlando’s gentrifying downtown complained that parks were being used as soup kitchens.

The arrest enraged volunteers, who said it was proof that the city
cares little for its neediest residents.

“Police are arresting people for feeding the homeless,” local ACLU President George Crossley said. “This has been a truly disgusting day.”

I am just speechless. I can’t think of a thing to write in response to this sillyness. Ugh.

Blogged with Flock

**UPDATED: Peter Rabbit vs. Jesus Christ*

*But not that vampire hunter version. That wouldn’t be fair for that poor rabbit.

The other day the crew (Young Extroverted One, Elder Extroverted Holy One and I) went to the 12th South Taproom to attend the CD release party of Leslie McClure. We got there a little too early but we sort of planned to eat before the show. After finishing our meal the YEO started to get restless and began singing Easter songs which mostly consisted of bunnies and stuff.

While we aren’t freaky and fundamental about it we do try to be intentional about the Christian holidays. So, EEHO brought up that we also, and mostly, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at this time of year. “So, why don’t we sing songs about Jesus instead of Easter?”** thus spake the YEO. Because in her mind Easter is the candy and bunnies and chicks and that annoying fake grass you put in baskets.

It’s kind of difficult to keep a balance between the secular, commercial side of holidays and the other religious side. For Pete’s sake (ya like that don’t ya?), the YEO is a potential preacher’s kid. She shouldn’t go through life just celebrating the Roman-pagan holidays. I think she needs to see both sides of the festivities (while not demanding the double-up of goodies).

Not only do we like to be religiously appropriate but also historically appropriate. It’ll make for a nice clash of ideals for teachers/authoritarian figures to deal with later. Maybe we’ll send her to a private Christian academy of some sort in Kansas.

**UPDATE: Apparently, my recollections of the YEO’s quote were clouded by the many Highland Brewing Company’s Gaelic Ales that I consumed. I suppose the EEHO should be my editor before I publish my posts. But that would take way too long.

The Young Extroverted One actually said, “Why would we sing songs about Jesus at Easter?” I apologize for my misquoting of the YEO lest she sue me for libel.

The Young Extroverted One’s ‘Hockey Night in Nashville’*

The Young Extroverted One has gone to her first hockey game. Last week we had ‘YEO and Daddy Hockey Night’ on Tuesday. It was the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Nashville Predators but if you asked her she would just shove her stuffed Gnash in your face and tell you that she enjoyed the game.My highlights were sharing the sport that I love with my daughter and the Preds winning. Her highlight was actually seeing Gnash and having him wave at her every time he came out from the concourse to our particular vomitorium to do his bits during stoppages. Around the fourth sighting and frantic waving I do believe Gnash was starting to wear down. I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to hear him say, “Kid! Leave me the ‘F’ alone! Sigh.” But he was gracious and his arm, I assume, got very tired.

Well played, Gnash. Well played!

YEO made it to almost seven minutes into the third period! I was expecting to leave earlier. But she was great, the game was great, some of the fans around us were annoying and a little dumb and Gnash was a gentleman sabre-tooth Tiger.

*First, I must beg forgiveness from my friends of the Canadien persuasion when I referenced ‘Hockey Night in Canada.’ Not having DirecTV and the Center Ice Package anymore I sure miss the CBC‘s beloved Saturday night games and mean no disrespect to that fine institution.

4 Words=Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter

 

Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter Theme Song

jcvh_lg.jpg

This movie has everything to make a great movie; Jesus Christ, vampires, Kung Fu, Musical (as in genre), lesbians, Mexican Wrestler El Santo, God talking through a bowl of ice cream and cherries, revenge, bad acting, bad audio dubbing, and made by Canadiens. What more do I need to say except, “Thank you, Netflix!”

Check out other reviews of this . . . ahem . . . film:

Rotten Tomatoes

BadMovies.org

Wikipedia

Green Cine

Internet Movie Database

Odessa Filmworks

The Joys of Cooking, Baking and Shaving Dogs

I made the realization the other day, as I was preparing a grilled shrimp over black bean and corn salad for the farm adventure, that I really miss cooking and baking.  The Elder Extroverted Holy One and I used to cook a lot before the Young Extroverted One made herself known.  When we were doing the vegetarian thing (up until the polish sausage incident during pregnancy) we made some extravagant meals.  Heck, I used to bake bread every week!

I’m not blaming the YEO for our lack of homecooked meals.  It’s just that now the dynamics are a little different.  In order for a more reasonable bedtime we need to have dinner at a certain time.  And I am usually wiped out from work. That leaves the EEHO, who is usually wiped out from schoolin’, picking up the YEO and keeping her entertained with snacks and whatever else fits her fancy at the time.  So, lately it’s been boxed prepared meals and Schwan’s(which is surpisingly good, by the way).

You see, I’m just a little more domestic than the EEHO.  If I were a stay-at-home dad like I was for YEO’s first year of life I’d be all domesticated.  The dishes would be done, laundry washed, dried and folded and our house would be clean (either that or I’d be wearing pearls, drinking wine, watching soaps and eating bon-bons.  Hmmm . . . that sounds kind of cool too).  Of course, in order for our house to be clean I would have to shave our two dogs and two cats but I’m up for that!

I guess I find some sort of meditative properties in the acts of domesticity.  Kind of Zen and the Art of Archery but I wouldn’t be shooting stuff.  It’s the process of prepping ingredients that go in to a meal or washing dishes by hand or even folding laundry.  All of these activities seem to center me.  It just seems I can find more meaning (?) in these things that I can do for my family and friends than I can in hanging chain motors, wrapping truss and raising said truss to show height for a Wal-Mart corporate gig.

I guess the EEHO needs to find some wealthy church to pay her so she can support my homely habits of housekeeping.

Spring Break Adventures

This is pretty old news but worth writing about.

All of which would have been forgotten if it had not been for my trusty Moleskine Pocket-sized Ruled Notebook. Yay for pens, paper and no short-term memory!

The Young Extroverted One’s spring break was a week later than the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s. So, we had to scramble to line up some ways of childcaring while we were working. Luckily, I was off on Days Three and Four!

Day One: Hanging out with her bud Griffin at Natural Fields Farm. Then over to her grandmother’s house for the night and most of the next day.

Day Two: See above.

Day Three: Off we went to the Nashville Public Library for Story Time. After story time we browsed the stacks for a little while and found some books and a DVD. When we were done there we decided to hit the Mellow Mushroom mainly because I wanted a beer with lunch but also to try to have lunch with EEHO since it was near the divinity school. My cell phone calls were ignored so YEO and I had a lovely lunch.

After a little digestion at home we headed out to Shelby Park and Shelby Bottoms for the YEO to ride her bike. Considering that we’ve never been to Shelby Bottoms we just decided to walk it orI walked it and she rode on my shoulders. It’s pretty nice out there along the Cumberland River. Plus, they’re in the process of building a nature center.

After my lovely, laden walk we hit the new ice cream joint in East Nashville called the Pied Piper Creamery . All I have to say about this place is MMMMMmmmmmm . . . me likey. I think the YEO liked it too.

Day Four: We went to the Nashville Zoo ! Unfortunately, so did everyone else. Beside the crowdedness, which I LOVE, it was very fun and the weather was, in YEO’s words, “AWESOME!” After zoo time we went home waited for EEHO to get home and we took her to the Pied Piper Creamery. Another convert was made that evening.

Day Five: Was spent with the EEHO and they went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts . I had to go back to work so I can’t report on that trip.

Day Six: Was a Saturday and we had planned a cook-out and general family/dog fun time back out at Natural Fields Farm with the Say crew and a couple of other families. Good food, good beer, creek time, good beer, bratwurst, dogs, ticks, good beer. I’m pretty sure it happened just like that. Really, all that I remember were the bratwurst and the beer and, I believe, nobody got hurt.

No zoo animals or naturally grown foods were harmed during these adventures.