So Christmas is over... did I get what I wanted? Does anyone ever truly get what they wanted? For that matter does anyone really know WHAT they want? At least for once I didn't finish the holiday season with that let down feeling that it was all over. I guess I could easily say EVERY year I kind of sighed at the end of Christmas because it was gone for another 365 days.

I never understood how you could hate Christmas. How it seemed like you could have done with or with out it, no matter how many awesome gifts I found, or how nice the meal was, or how festively the house was decorated. Well this year for the most part - I went through the motions, I put up the decorations and made it clear that Christmas was coming. Sure I still enjoyed finding that perfect gift for someone and watching the dogs tear into their goodies, but it wasn't the same. Congrats... you finally got me to understand what it's like to hate Christmas and to wish it past. I'm sorry I could never show you what it was like to enjoy Christmas. But at least I've learned it wasn't my fault - you'll never be happy until you deal with your haunted Christmases past.

All I can say in summation is I'm very glad those somber emotions were passing ones, tearing at me only on Christmas eve... that I still managed to enjoy my holiday with special people and a tasty meal (if I do say so myself).

Sad day... the Avenger went to her new Daddy. *sigh* Then when I came home I found Orla dead. Poor ratty rat. :( Ah the mood bodes a morose Christmas.

How about them Canes?! The Pens went... daaa-hooown. Excellent last minute score by Brind'Amour to tie the game and a very sweet tap from O'Neill to seal the deal.

The Avenger has a potential buyer... she will be missed :( But it sounds like she's going to a good home, of a hockey loving guy.

Much progress made on the part of my favorite little hockey hottie, Bates Battaglia. In one week's time he's returned from a foot injury to play for a new Caps coach and managed to slide in two goals and an assist. Now we're talking... hopefully this little run can keep up.

Maurice gone, whassup w/ that?! So the canes decided to can their coach. *pout* I'm itching for a hockey game so if anyone is up for one of the post Christmas games here in Jtown ping me!!

MISC
There's nothing better than the office Christmas party :) Excellent food, plenty to drink and amusing people to dance and chat with. Needless to say a good time was had, even if they DID neglect to announce the late bus and I had to steal Kirk's car to come home.

Hockey
Three cheers for the Red Wings going down 15 seconds into overtime this weekend *neener neener* Ok, so they did beat the Caps, but I'm always happier to talk about the Wing's failures. Hurrah to the Chiefs for smacking down Peoria, finally, and for holding to second place in our division behind the Nailers.

Dogs
With the 7-ish inches of snow we got the dogs are having a blast running to and fro. It keeps them happy (and tired) so I won't complain too much about the snow, at least not yet. Give me a few months.

Cake
Ok, back to the holiday party, it wasn't cake but it still was tasty and chocolate. I also had the mint pie from Schwans hanging around my house. So cake needs fulfilled.

BATES SHOOTS... HE SCORES! Congrats to Bates on breaking his 28 game goal free streak a mere two days before his birthday. Take that Boston!

Wow, a week that I'm actually busy at work - the world will never cease to amaze me.

Monday night's Chief's Christmas party was entertaining. It is quite a hoot to see all the rookies up there doing karaoke to frosty the snowman. I'm glad they have talent in sports, as they most definitely have a singing career to fall back on.

Hottie Richard Paul was in good form *smile* he even admitted to the accosting of others at the mall with wrapping paper that my friend Missy witnessed. What a bad egg, you gotta love it. But I behaved myself.

Bates is back on his feet and playing again. Quite pleased to see the Caps canned their coach after some of the snyde ass remarks he was making to the team recently.

At long last I also have some cake news! Schwanns has their mint pie in again. *mmmm*

On a final note of interest to the world I've taken myself back off the market. Maybe my selling price was too high.

Excellent hockey weekend... two games against Peoria, two overtimes, one to the shoot out... one win, one loss. Not a bad deal. My boy, the enforcer, wasn't out there wreaking havoc however, mayhaps Richard Paul will make up for that in later games. Yes, okay, I'm officially drooling a little, but it's because I'm a pervert and hockey gear is so cute. I think I have a thing for left wingers or something.

Well the dogs are happy to be back home, they've managed to flutter their fur through-out the house again. Satin spent a good portion of last evening peering out the window and looking cute near the recently erected Christmas tree. I swear that dog knows exactly what the tree means... gifts for her. Now I just need to secure the stockings somewhere out of paw's reach.

I've decided to take a preemptive strike at a new years resolution. Okay, that's bull, I don't believe in new years resolutions, but I figure it's a good excuse to get my butt back on the diet track again. I guess it's the wrong time of year, but my mother is out of state, so that should help cut down on the goodies I will be accessing through Christmas. *oh no - cake!*

Now on to hockey!

Bates is still on the injuries list:
"Left wing Bates Battaglia has a bruised foot and is day-to-day."
Poor angel... foot rub my dear?

Chiefs are still doing quite well. Last two home games before Christmas this weekend, and I have plans to hit both *woot* I even get to assist in tossing a satanic banana onto the ice on Saturday. Don't ask.

Alas, a return to Johnstown. Needless to say it's much colder here, and mother nature decided to show me some lovely flurries as I went to pick up the dogs from the kennel. They were quite chipper when I picked them up. But I'm hoping they'll be tired and sleep for a few days.

So here's a long story that can't be made short for you to sum up my talent w/ men.

On the flight to Texas, well actually from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, there is a hottie pilot. So I make mention of this to my mother, who flew down with me. Being her normal, encouraging, self she basically told me I didn't stand a chance. Being the type of girl who HATES being told I can't do something I said "oh yeah?".

My eyes and my opportunity had their chance again on the way home... he was again flying our plane. *woot* So after the flight lands I chat him up for a second or two and offer up the contact info. Here's where we 1). learn that Judy has crap for luck and 2). mom is always right... somehow. So he leans off to the side, covers his mouth and tells me he's gay.

Now I ask you - was that just a clever and easy way to blow someone off? Would someone tell you that right off the bat? Who knows. Either way, guys usually at least go out with me once or twice before they realize their gay ... I guess I've honed my talent for switching them over over the years.

But at least I got to tell mom that I did talk to him and got his name. Dave the fly-boy... woohoo. So does this mean my mom's gay-dar is better than mine?

At least there are beautiful sunsets on the flight from the Burgh to Jtown to keep my eyes entertained for future flights.

How many people get the pleasure of twisting their dear sweet nieces and nephews as they get into the meat of their teenage years? Today, needless to say, completely ruled. I not only got to see Type O Negative for like the millionth time, but I also got to see Moonspell.

To explain the best I can, Type O was my obsession before Bates *laugh* ok, so maybe I am still Type O obsessed, it just took them a hella long time to release another album and go to a city that I could hit. They foolishly scheduled their Pittsburgh show for the night of my work Christmas party... so I had to come the whole way to Texas to see them. Ah the sacrifices I make.

AND to top it all off - I got to take my nephew. How did he express his feelings towards the experience of his first concert?

"I felt like I was riding the Texas Giant (rollercoaster) with neanderthals and satanists."

My work here is done.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Alas, the day of feasting. Just this time last year I was happily preparing a delightfully brined turkey (hail Alton) in my cozy NC home. Ah well. This year I am spending my holiday with family in Texas. At least the temp is comfortable and I didn't have to cook!

I haven't done much hockey watching since arriving, but I've compensated by slacking off instead - and eating WAY too much cake. My nephew's 14th birthday was Tuesday, so there has been an abundance of dessert type items around the house all week.

Of course my IM buddy is not going to be online tonight *pout* so I may have to torment the kids or hide with my laptop this evening. *smile*

Time for a nap.

It's 8:19am. I've slept not a wink last night. My coffee is good, but doesn't feel necessary right now. Amazingly I'm wide awake. I had a jig of a time out in Eburg last night bsing and sampling some fine ice creams (close second to cake). Didn't get to catch the Pens game (or should I say the thrashing that the Pens received) but I did learn what an array of old horribly acted television shows are on tv in the wee hours of the morning.

Several episodes of Full House, Cheers, and something about Hitler's medical problems later I'm ready to face a Thursday. I'm expecting to crash out here at work somewhere around 11. We'll see how well I can hold out. Needless to say the dogs were quite displeased with my absence. But they got their share of milk from my cereal bowl to appease them for now.

Happy day! Hockey hockey hockey... the Canes went down to the Caps a weee bit in the past week, but I'll just attribute it to the Caps having Bates. I found another site loaded w/ pics of Batesy so my background is about bursting at the seams now. It's a nice way to blow off the rest of the drama in the world, ya know?

I have officially taken a stance on cloning. *grin* If those in charge see fit to create a Battaglia for me... I'm for cloning. It sure would eliminate all the other issues floating around right now with men in my life. If you're reading this.... YEAH, it's probably about you :)

Last night was very cool for a Monday I must say. I had the luxury of cooking dinner for my Kirkus. I made him do some manly work at the house, preparing tools *grunt grunt* so we could have smores! Yum :) That pretty much made my week. It is, after all, all his fault that I'm whooped on smores. They're not exactly cake, but they'll definitely do!

Also, I'm proud to report I have a solid A right now in my class! *woohoo* One more individual paper and a group paper to complete. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Fear the day I have a masters degree in anything.

Go CHIEFS! Hella cool friday night, Chiefs take it 3-1, Irbe in goal all night (I swear I'm going to have a male dog named Irbe some day... just so I can yell at him), awesome fight at the hands of Richard Paul (I can see myself becoming one of his fans - good looking, scrapper, with a good sense of humor). He's no Bates, but he'll do. He also has an odd style of flirting... yes Missy, that would be the one that grabbed my phone at the end of the Halloween parade telling you I was busy and hang up on you. As I recall the post parade conversation went something like:
"Who the hell was that?!"
"I dunno, number 55 - last name Paul."

My bud Missy is cheesed at the rumor that her Spence may be returning to the Chiefs. We'll see. But I'm telling you, if she gets Spence I better get Battaglia!

The CAVE CLUB: Ok, just to prove some of the humorous things that people will come up with here. Last night a group of people from work were out talking about the "cave club". I guess rumor around here has it that the cave (VR environment) is used for other activities and treated much like a mile high club.

My point in adding this to my blog? Well...
1. It's just plain funny being that my husband use to work in the cave.
2. This is just one of the 1001 rumors you hear around here.
3. Why wasn't I invited?! *just kidding*

I just find it funny that as a child you always looked at adults and never imagined they'd do and say some of the same things you joked about as a jr high kid, but they do. So, do people ever really grow up? Will my generation still be a pile of twisted souls when we're 80?


On another note it has finally snowed here in Johnstown. I won't complain as it's only a little on the ground... but I'm sure there is more to come. The dogs are of course loving it, although leaping through an inch of snow isn't exactly as entertaining for them as a foot would be.

Panic! The quest for a hot date is on. So the office Christmas party is the 13th of December. I knew that was coming up... but they've already sent out the invites. Now I need to pick a hottie. If you've got any eye candy friends send them my way!

I've only had one day off work (Veterans day) but it feels like an eternity. So much seems to have happened.

• I did manage to crank out my paper, who says procrastinating doesn't pay off.
  
• Congrats to Andrew and Sandra, friends from NC who just announced their recent engagement.
  
• A small group of us had a good time Monday night out kicking up heals and acting like pervs at the Orchard and Bobby Deans. Nothing better than good drinks, good wings, and good company. Well, okay there could have been some cake and hockey involved. *shrug*
  
• Fingers crossed for tonights kick ass game - Canes vs. Caps. I'll cheer for the Canes, but won't complain if Bates manages to do well. They play again this weekend, so it will be a glorious hockey week for me.
  
• My laptop arrived *woot* now I can work on papers from in front of the television with ease!
  

Tragedy. My favorite restaurant, and only place that made Johnstown a real city has abruptly closed. So today I am at work in black mourning the Boulevard Grill. This is the one good eatery/bar in town... and also where I had my wedding reception, so it's a bit of a downer.

The Pens had their ass handed to them this weekend. 9 to zip. Ouch. At least wonderboy Fleury wasn't in goal all that time.

And to take this whole blog thing to a personal level (not that anyone is actually reading it anyhow)... I learned my husbands woman lost her job on Friday. In an interesting twist of emotions, I actually felt bad for her loosing her job. Odd. (A note here - I am separated) It's been one of those sureal weekends for so many reasons.

Guten morgan.

So today the dogs hit the vet. Of course they were both careful to abuse themselves yesterday to make me look good when we get there. I don't think the little chipmunk was too happy that they found him up inside the drain spout. Why Satin, as smart as she is thought her nose would fit up the spout is beyond me. But she is sporting a lovely wound to show her attempts. Vixen on the other hand still has tar on her foot and in her fur from the re-roofing day. That will be the last time I trust "gramma" to watch them outside.

Today I take my revenge on the candy thieves here at work. I have secretly replaced my normal candy with lovely Halloween candy that is sour as can be and turns your mouth bright red. Let's see if we can catch ourselves some candy snipers red handed... or mouthed as the case may be.

A new day... Granted it's Wednesday but I'm finally finding a moment to think.

What's new on the hockey front:
Chiefs fan club welcome party on Sunday, a short but sweet event. I managed to get a small chat in with my favorite goalie to scream at, Arturs Irbe. He's a nice guy, but seems a little shy. I'm just really grateful he decided to show up to our lame little ECHL party.

A few cuties on the team, but of course I could be their mother. Damn I feel old.

NHL, haven't gotten to watch too many games as of late. Still waiting for my boy Bates to get in gear. Maybe I should hope he takes a slide and ends up here in Johnstown too... mm, tasty. Nah, I wouldn't wish Johnstown on my worst enemy. I'm still working on being a Caps fan, sorry Bates, that's a tough one.


What's new on the dog front:
My crazy ass beasts go to the vet tomorrow. I'm sure they'll love mommy for that. Just a little routine maintenance to get them ready for kenneling while I enjoy some holiday time away from home.


What's new on the cake front:
Did you know the Phoenix has "extreme" cakes. They're huge. We're talking 3 times the height of a normal size piece of cake. Smores cake... and huge. Yum. Almost as tasty as Bates, but not quite.

Greetings - and welcome to my blog. I'm not a philosopher or the like, so if you're looking for deep thoughts you're probably at the wrong place. BUT... I do promise you a 3-hour tour of the dark cavern that I call my mind.

I'll probably jump from subject to subject, but my three favorite as of late are Hockey, dogs, and cake... thus the title. :)

Enjoy!