Twitch twitch. Now how is a girl going to go and leave for travel on a day when she knows the new season's schedule will be released. That's just not right. At least I know my bud from the Stinkrays *grin* will be in town before Thanksgiving. Now to see how many games we'll miss with our November vacation and when the Westie swing is scheduled. Hopefully they'll follow through with the trip for would-be traveling fans.

Wish me luck - 5 hours in a car today headed around DC. Woot.

What a great, relaxing, weekend - and it's not over yet. I guess the key to extending the weekend is going out on Friday night. If makes one feel like they've had an extra day off. Ok, so maybe part of the key is to drink all weekend :)

Friday I got out of work a bit late due to some preparation for Monday travel, *wheee!* but I was still able to enjoy the evening. Beff, Slipster, Thompson, the nudist fan (better nickname forthcoming), and I headed to the Johnstown Riverhawks game - last one of the season. Kind of appropriate as I hit the first game of the season as well. Arena football is not my cup of tea, but it was just nice to be out and in MY arena. From there we headed to the Haven for some grub and drinks. I can't believe how packed it was.

Today was my company picnic so needless to say there was more drink to be had, as well as good grub and excellent company. Our blast there was finalized with a great caricature of Beff, Slipster, and I. I think we will all three end up with copies in the end - mine will definitely get framed and proudly displayed. Priceless. Then off for more grub - ok wait - there was way too much grubbing this weekend, but I digress. City View was also jam packed tonight. The whole weekend seems a bit hectic for Johnstown, and Thunder in the Valley doesn't even start for a couple more days.

More word on the Chiefs today, Toby will be stepping up from head coach to GM and VP. What this means is the search is on for a new head coach. Changes changes.

This week is going so slowly. I can't believe it's only Thursday, but lucky for me as I still have to wrap up my work for this week's class assignment. I hit happy hour after work today with my one team, that was refreshing... now on to the class work. It's just like college *laugh* Last night I was helping paint at a friend's new place, to ensure they could participate in and enjoy this weekend's activities. Which, I've got a busy weekend ahead of me so I guess I better get to the class work and get it out of the way.

I also got off my lazy ass and actually purchased software, can you believe it? LICENSED SOFTWARE! So I'll, at last, have a newer version of homesite here with which I can crank out a friend's business website and then get on with the fan club site if it gets off the ground this year. Wish me luck.

I'm using my blog as therapy now to avoid being pissed to the point of saying something to someone I really shouldn't today at work. I love how my deadlines and "goals" are blown because other people don't review things in a timely manner. But I digress.

Looks like the coaching position for the Chiefs is up in the air for this season. I'm assuming if Toby is no longer the coach he will still have a strong presence within the organization, but I am interested to see what Tampa Bay opts to do here. One thing is for sure, this could definitely alter who the Chiefs are willing/able to sign back. Count yourselves lucky David and Jean for already being signed.

I don't agree with every action that Toby has taken and I don't expect to approve of everything any coach does, so my sense of fearing any change is there. I think it could make a world of difference too us, but how much of a world of difference and what does that really mean. At least I'm not irate like I was when the Canes tossed Paul Maurice.

Monday again. At least it's nearly over. The weekend went well as I got to hang w/ the good peeps. We watched movies, we complained about stupid boys, we drank, we even got a little exercise in. The weather has been pretty toasty here and the house is up to 80 some degrees. For once, I'm not freezing. Quite refreshing.

Since I finished up one of this week's reading assignments already tonight I'm rewarding myself with a nice little Ryan Reynolds fix thanks to a bud in at work loaning me Van Wilder. Yum.

There isn't much exciting to report as of late. I'm torn amongst a couple large purchases that are weighing on my mind lately. I keep trying to put some of them off hoping the desire will pass. One thing definitely on the slate is the replacement sliding door to the deck. That task is long overdue. Maybe I'll shop for a new bowling ball too. How dorky is that?

Friday at last. I am pooped this week. One has to figure being out running here and there every night this week had something to do with that. Gratefully this evening I think I'm just going to sit, read (so I can finish the last of my class reading assignment since I didn't get to finish it over lunch today), and do some laundry. What an exciting set of plans for Friday night, huh! I need a restful weekend as I'm sure next week at work will be busy trying to push things through review. Sometimes I really miss the days of having a job that was not mentally exhausting. Give me a waitress tray or a cash register please? I suppose the odds of winning the lottery are a bit too low, so I best stop whining.

At long last my cohorts returned to town yesterday from the "great white north" and we went out for some grub and catch up time. Just over a month until our next mini-vacation back down to the Carolinas. Speaking of vacations we need to get our flights sorted out for our November cruise and a hotel for the Carolinas. That means web research. WHEE!

Yippee! Last night I got to go hang out with Binder and Amy for a few hours. Dinner at the Boulevard and a movie, even if it was a late night it was a good one. Today to compensate I'll be busting some major ass to get a document review completed on time, so I'll keep this short. We went to see the Longest Yard (the Adam Sandler flick). Aside from just not being able to accept Adam Sandler and his body type as a former professional NFL player it was a decent laugh flick. Given that not much else has come out as of late with any draw for me, it was just nice to get to the theatre.

Tonight is prayer minister training at church. They're not having the greeter training until next week. I figure I'll attend both and see what I feel comfortable doing, but I need to do something there. Once the hockey season starts it should be interesting to make sure I'm only working the EARLIER service so I'm never late for warmups! 135 days people.

Happy day! Despite a morning of absimal hell.

I couldn't make the afternoon press conference for the Chiefs due to work, but our new part-owner, Weber, opted to come to the Aces at 6pm to meet with all that could not make the conference. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and excited to get things underway. I'm really eager to see how things play out for the team this year.

It is my understanding from his discussion that Tampa Bay has added more vested interest in our club, needless to say this is wonderful news. We're going to see some changes - heaven knows many have been calling for changes, but I'm sure they'll still bitch when they see change actually coming down the pike. BAH!

From there, fan club meeting. Good evening - always lovely to see my hockey peeps. I so miss you folks during the summer. Then, how else to top the evening but with a drink or two. Nothing worse than a 22 year old passed out on my couch while I blog. They simply have no drinking stamina. For some reason one of the scenes from Interview with the Vampire popped into my head as I typed that. *grin*

So what chapped me so much today at work? Well I can't post all happy thoughts, can I? Today - as I had predicted on Friday - the migration of our networks did NOT work at 100%. I tried to log in. "WELCOME TO WINDOWS". You've got to be kidding. Where the hell is my profile and why can I not get to any network drives. *moan* Needless to say it took until 2pm to get things resolved, or mostly so. After a few meetings I tried to print things I needed to finish tonight since I couldn't get to them all day... and I can't print. Ok, do we think my work will be done for tomorrow? I think now.

Time for a long post to babble and get the world caught up with the incredibly boring thoughts and things that fill my life. Why DO you folks find this so interesting as to read?

What a lovely day for a walk (once it cools down later this afternoon). Too bad my would-be walking accompaniment is in Toronto. Boogers. In order to try and enjoy the day I've opened quite a few windows, but I know I'll pay for that action, no matter how much flonase I use. The neighboring yard (ok, it looked more like a wheat field) is getting mowed today. Let's place bets on how many hours before my breathing is compromised. Eh, I'm more stubborn than that - I won't die, just cause I know how many of you would get too much pleasure out of that. Needless to say, I won't be pulling out the pressure washer today either - in an effort to avoid the cut grass. The world is working against me getting any of this crap finished.

This weekend has been pretty busy with church-related activities. I spent a few hours there last night for our healing service. It was a very nice service and hard to explain to someone how it feels to truly be in the presence of God's healing power. Today our standard service and then dropped a couple more bags of clothes at the Salvation Army. My closets are cleansed! My dresser drawers are no longer crammed and room has been made in the closet for more jerseys *huge grin* If only I could find the motivation to totally clean out the upstairs rooms like I did my own.

I'm getting a little concerned with my body's general ability to heal. I'm not surprised that I can still see exactly where the bruise was I obtained three weeks ago trimming Beff's bush. The colors have faded, but there is still discoloration and a bumpy type feel under the skin. Further, it's been over a week since the bee-sting and that looks just as crappy. The location of the sting is still quite obvious and a white ring 3/4 of an inch around that is white and slightly raised still - though not sore. Outside of that there is a reddish-purple bruise like discoloration for about an inch. What does one do under those circumstances but call mom to find out what the deal is. When your mother seems to find that "not normal" but has little else to say it's not comforting. I guess when my leg rots off (keep in mind these two wounds are only about 5 inches apart) we'll all know what gives.

All three fish are happy and bubbling this week, likely due to the warmer water they've been afforded by my ability to turn off the heat and to allow the outside temperatures to warm the house. I can't believe it's June. The dogs, pretty quiet. I've been finding them basking in the sun from the front window or flopped down outside pretty often. That's one good thing to them getting a wee bit older, they're more inclined to sleep.

Maybe to bring my blog full circle I need to defrost a slice of Andes pie. Yes, I have one hidden from winter. Who says I can't "put the cookie down"?!

Hockey happiness - and it's only June. I can't tell you how much I adore getting word of things this early in the summer. Here's the news from the office:

Signed vet, Dave Stewart, from the UHL.

Returns for Mike James trade to Toledo -> Steve Slonina (good guess NF!) whom we've signed and D-man Doug Andress.

Returns from Shawn Mather to AC -> rights to three forwards: Paul Caponigri, Kelsey Muench, and Dustan Heintz.

An excellent way to de-stress from an incredibly busy work-day.

"She's so mean, but I don't care. -Escape Club"

More kudos for Chiefs staff today. John Michaels, the voice for our chiefs on the radio this past couple seasons was named the ECHL broadcaster award while Mike Mastovich, writer for the Tribune-Democrat, received the ECHL outstanding media award.

It was a pretty good day for me too! I was pretty busy at work, so the day went quickly. I come back to my desk at ten til 5 from an afternoon of meetings to a call from my boss. So we cranked out my review and I wrapped up the paperwork so that is all done for the year. I'm pretty relieved. We changed our review process and there were all kinds of new things to complete this year that I thought would be a real nightmare and would have me locked into unrealistic goals for the next year. Fortunately my boss was agreeable with what I had pulled together and the whole food chain signed off on it with no changes. *whew* I also got to sign of on my yearly raise, that's always a bonus.

I'm not knocking it, but I'm just a smidge under what I was making whilest in NC now. With the cost of living differences I'm DEFINITELY not complaining, but I do wonder what I could have myself at down south. One has to recall, that during the three years there I didn't get a single raise due to the slowing economy. Noone was complaining, I was just happy I wasn't part of the massive cut-backs my industry was feeling for those several years.

Anyhow, so I get home and there's a package! I can't believe my jersey is here already. Very impressive. Mmm, new jersey.

From being asked if I wanted screwed or nailed at lunch time, to coming home to find two youngin's working on my deck it was a pretty decent day. All coy amusement aside, I was surprised to get an email this morning saying that efforts to complete a task arranged while drinking at my picnic were going to start this morning. After many hours of labor some of my deck is renovated and nearing completion of the upgrade.

On a hockey note tonight was game 6 in the Kelly Cup finals. I should be cheering for the Everblades since they're Carolina's affiliate, but I do have to stick with the northern divisions. Go Trenton! Congrats on bringing the Kelly cup back to the Northern division.

Another thought for the evening. Do you ever sit and put puzzle pieces together in your mind? Small, obscure pieces that mean nothing and are really half driven by your own theories and hypothesis and just KNOW that there is something more than what you see, brewing beneath the surface? Well that's where I am right now. I'm watching, from afar, and I see, I know, I feel. Some people call it a "need to know", I just call it an uncontrollable urge to which I probably should avoid watching but simply can't resist. Maybe I'm just seeing things play out in my minds eye as I have expected them to.

Additional ownership for the Chiefs eh? Great deal. This just reinforces the accuracy of the current ownership's commitment to keep trying with the Chiefs (in my mind). I guess Mr. Weber is highly associated with the Lancaster Brewing Co, so we might have better beer on tap in the party pit before we know it :) With summer being as quiet as it is hockey-news wise it's just nice to see the logo in the paper.