Must work on paper. Must sleep. Must work on PAPER! Must focus. Must stop answering the voices in my head. Must convince the voices in my head to work on the paper. Salsa shark! (It's best if you just don't ask.)

"Pull out some hope for me. -Matchbox 20"

Welcome party complete. I'm torn... do I work on my paper, like I know I should, or do I try to nap? I'm beat. What a busy weekend. I'm definitely not complaining that the welcome party didn't last long, although it's always disappointing to know that more time was putting into preparations than the length of the event itself.

I will give kudos however to Tremblay, Desrochers, Tallari and Reid - who all, from my understanding, made an attempt to help clean up post party. Thank you for offering up a little bit of kindness to the fan club... and for being gentlemen.

They keep threating to name James my 'favorite' for this year, so I better pick one on my own, because that isn't happening. Eh.

Two nights, two losses to Pee-Dee. What gives? Our boys, while individually not playing horribly just aren't playing as a team. Time for some discipline. Last evening we lost in the last 6 seconds of overtime and this evening in a shootout. Last night Tarabrin and Mather turned on the red light and today Mather, Hildenbrand, Desrochers, and Tallari slapped one in. It's not like we're not scoring goals - we're just not putting together coordination and defense.

I see Courville signed on with Reading, or - so I hear. Paul was quiet in Port Huron last evening, but at least ended up with 5 this evening for a scrap that seemed to be the tip of an iceburg. Let's get some more points bubb.

I spent most of my non-hockey waking hours today carving pumpkins for the party tomorrow. So this day was pretty much shot. Maybe I'll get some time in on my paper tomorrow evening after the shindig. But, I'm not holding my breath.

We just released one of the guys that scored a goal in the first two games (adios Kozoriz). Interesting. The Chiefs also signed a replacement forward, Evgeny Lazarev and a d-man, Paul Lynch, to try and cover for the absence anticipated for Leinweber and Sullivan. We'll see what this does for us against Pee Dee this weekend. More numbers to memorize... yeee-ha. :)

"You let me down. -Limp Bizkit"

Remember the day you realized your knight's armor wasn't very shiney? I do. I remember having a dead battery and calling for "help". 20 minutes later my friends showed up instead of my beloved, whom I had called. There was a good reason: the jumper cables _I_ bought for him were given away by his mother to his sister. WTF. *shrug*

Anyhow, I was reminded of that yesterday when my engine light came on on the way home from work. I stopped, snagged some oil, quickly realized in the past year of owning this vehicle, I haven't opened the hood of my Durango. Doh. Wouldn't normally be a problem - if I could have found the damn release once it was popped. Let's discuss how helpless and female this made me feel... never mind stupid. But I had to laugh. How many engine lights come on at 6400 miles. Ok, don't answer that. I'm sure Mrs. Law would point out that they had issues w/ their Dodge too, but I'm still sold on them.

I pleasantly surprised myself bowling in the 140s for two of my games last night. Yeah, I know, still not the greatest score, but I'm getting better. I've also got all of the pumpkin patterns lined up and ready to go. Now to snag the items I need to make my macaroni and cheese and to determine which halloween outfit for which day - or to repeat the one key one. So many decisions. But oh, how I love Halloween :) If only I didn't have to work I'd have time for all of those other things that are pressing.

"If you tell the world... -Aaliyah"

Our broken team. Ok, it's not usually kosher to talk specifics about injuries... but since it's already been broadcast on the message boards I think I can at least refer to them. Suffice it to say Mather had the C on Sunday and probably will for weeks after the fight between Sgroi and Sully on Saturday. We also saw Leiney out wandering about long before the guys were off the ice, which confused those of us prepping the photo table. Well it sounds like a case of hand issues are going to be plaguing us for a little while. Tremblay claims to be recovering from some kind of injury (he was dressed yesterday but didn't spend a second on the ice during regulation time).

We're how many guys shy already, and we've got this other guy who for unknown reasons has yet to report to the team. *shrug* An interesting season it shall be. Mayhaps this is just the planets aligning way in advance. I still want to know what, if any, other NHLers tried to knock at the Chiefs' door besides Irbe.

"Would you notice if I left you? -The Cranberries"

Chiefs lost in a shoot out to Dayton. It was a good game. Sat in the 'party pit' and should have a few good pictures. I guess we'll see here shortly. James, Desrochers, and Mather tapped one in. Got to slap on the skates, and was happy to see that they zambonied before letting folks out there. Last year the ice was such a mess, it was awful for someone as terrible as I on skates.

I feel like I was running in circles all day, but I didn't get much done. At least I got to church and got my little lesson in for the day. I really think sometimes the themes are directed at me.

It's official, Paul is signed w/ the Beacons in the UHL. And... this just cracked me up... he took on my favorite number, 13 (Bates' number and my softball number)! A fight in his first game, which I've seen good commentary on and two assists already under his belt. You say you don't score goals? Well I say you do. So give'm hell toots.

"Not just a support system... -Liz Phair"

1:08PM: It's hockey night in Johnstown! The sun was out, for the first time in a week (see, even God digs hockey). I'm opting for the Zehr jersey for this evening (yet another guy who the mere act of me being a fan of his ended up ensuring he would not return to Jtown, or hockey even for the time being). On the off chance you're reading Jeff - drop me a line.

I did accomplish some cleaning, and mowing, and bouncing around the house listening to my tunes prior to getting ready for the game. I even ran out and bought the pumpkins I need for next weekend. Let's see how much I hate pumpkins after next Saturday.

I will add to this post after the game. Hopefully I will be as 'up' as I am pre-game. I should be okay given that some of the crew and I will be grubbing prior, and a nice evening out with friends coupled with hockey always puts a smile on my face. LETS GO CHIEFS!

12:38AM (Sunday): I'm back, I'm happy! 4-3 Chiefs. We were up 4-0 but our D kind of went f-o and let Wheeling abuse Currie like a red-headed step child in the third. But he's amazing, and pulled us through like a champ. What a beautiful series of saves three on goal shots all stopped, stopped, stopped! Goals by James, Desrochers, Kozoriz, and Courchesne. Tremblay was given the day off, what gives? Game on again tomorrow!

"1,2,3 who should I kill? Every mother f*er running up the hill -Rob Zombie"

Sully the captain, this time not of a ship. Bilodeau isn't even slotting as an assistant. Mather and Manzano will be wearing the A this year. Thanks for the early word, you wacky Tremblay fan.

The rumor fairy says Richard Paul to the UHL, Port Huron. Funny, given that a friend was also looking to going there. Coinky-dink, I think not. Rumors are rumors... let's see the pudding.

"Constantly dwelling on how you got the best of me. -Limp Bizkit"

I'm a blogging fool this week!

Came home a little early since it's the end of the pay period and I had an extra hour built up. Went to feed the fish and I realized Paulie (the fish that is) is a little horn-ball. He's got a HELLA bubble nest kicking. First, yes, I did default to the name Paulie for him, it compliments Bates well. It was that or Irbe, and I still think Irbe should be reserved for dog - someday. (I think highly of my dogs, so that's a compliment). Second, bubble nests, as I mentioned in here once before is what male Bettas make waiting for a female to wander by. They put the eggs in the bubble nest. Since I didn't feed them right away they're puffin up and strutting their stuff for one another. It's so cute to watch two men trying to prove how bitchin they are.

Then I open the mail and see I'm the cover story in the fan club newsletter. *panic* Ok. I wanted to contribute, but now I feel way too exposed. Incidently, congrats to Kim and Troy! Good work keeping up with the newsletter despite the wedding. The season is here. *woot*

Now, time to consume my dinner... an apple dumpling I procured at Meatballs at lunch time. It's got an apple in it, it's healthy!

"I'm just wondering do you feel it, too. I wanna know do you want me, too. Now do you? Do you? Well, maybe you do. -Tapping the Vein"

All of the rosters are out for opening night. Lots of other little things I've noticed about former Chiefs. Seems Crane didn't bother to report. Kind of a pissy attitude to take when there are lots of guys would would poke his eyes out for that chance. Notermann was traded off to AC. At least there is lots of activity going on to talk about.

Demo is on 7-day IR w/ a leg injury according to the paper... and, get this. Tremblay was recalled to the AHL. Yes, the coach figures he'll be back for Saturday, but how much would _that_ chap my ass if he was perminantly pulled after all has been said and done in the past week? 2 more nights. Woohoo. I guess Nailer Fan and I will be in the same section, or darn near, so at least I'll have someone to bicker with during the game.

Grubbed at Meatballs today... what an incredibly yummy cheap meal. Now I have the stamina to get back to testing, or responding to all the other developers to clear up confusion since our testing was done on a previous build. *grumble*

"I'm attracted to the fabric of waste. Watching ourselves as our bodies decay. -Machines of Loving Grace"

I was asked several times about pics of my one tattoo. It's funny how many people have been asking lately to see the tattoo or what the tattoo that they see sticking out a little is of. It has always given me a smile when someone coyly says, "I don't want to be rude or anything, but can I see your tattoo?" It was even funnier when I was with one of my ex's and had the individual ask for permission from the guy I was with prior to asking me. Anyhow... Yes, it exists... fine. I give. Here.

It's a little grainy, but it's an okay shot of it. The colors are more vibrant than you'd guess from this pic. I don't wear too much to show it off as it's not suppose to be out in the sun anyhow.

Enjoy you perverts.

While talking to someone on messenger I was reminded of my high school physics teacher in a discussion of volts and amps. So, I feel compelled to put a thank you out there to Mr. Menard, who taught me how to catch. Well, okay, I learned how to catch after getting pegged by erasers and rubber balls quite a few times. But it still makes me laugh. I guess I have him to thank for being able to catch the grounders that came winging at me during softball last summer.

"Now I find that most of the time, love's not enough - in itself. -Depeche Mode"