Just Plain Goofiness

Here's Daisy's new Halloween Costume - the iPug:


And, another goofy pic:



Goofy pet sites. Most captions written in Pidgin English which iz what makes dem so much more silly:

http://ihasahotdog.com/ --> (dogs)
http://icanhascheezburger.com/ --> (cats)

Happy Halloween
("I iz gonna make mess on rug. Make momma angry. Momma gotta pay for dressing me in silly costume.")

XOXO, Daisy

"No One Puts Baby In the Corner"

Arnica gel...have you tried it out yet? Great for bruises and sore muscles and the best part - it doesn't smell!! I had to dig deep in my medicine cabinet to find my tube that I haven't used in a long time. But, I better keep it within easy reach b/c I'm back playing co-ed hockey. Unfortunately, it's not the fun and friendly beer league I played in over the summer :-( I just signed up with the IceOTopes and we play in the GSHL (Greater Seattle Hockey League). So far, we're 2-1. I missed the first game, but played in the second game where we won 4-3. Usually, because of the speed and the physical aspect of playing with men, I play up (left or right-wing). However, for the third game, I decided to give defense a shot which is actually my preferred position in the women's league.

When I play with men, I have to play defense completely different. Especially with a chippy team like the one we just played. This team played lazy-ass hockey. NOTHING annoys me more on the ice than cherry-pickers. My first thought is "you lazy SOB...I have to pay for your lack of off-ice conditioning because you can't manage to skate from one end of the ice to the other and the only way you have a chance at making a play is to only play one-half of the friggin' ice." So, I have to hang way back and can't play the blue line like I want to and contribute offensively (however, I did pinch a few times and managed a few shots on goal...thanks, Andrew, for covering my ass). That's ok, it's an opportunity for me to anticipate the passes and bring it back the other way.

The other thing I have to do is to be more physical (even though it is a non-check league) and be ready to take a hit. I learned pretty quickly when I got checked in the back and went flying into the boards in the first period. At first, I played the 'girl' card and wondered "wtf is that guy thinking checking me like that?" But, then I would've been pissed off more had he backed off completely b/c I am a girl (though, he didn't have to put all of his 190+ lbs. into it). In any case, I was pissed - after I sent off a few retaliatory chips and hacks to let him know that I wasn't backing down, I skated back to the bench, cooled off, and then thought about my strategy. Being on defense, I can get away with just a little bit more contact (hehe) and even more so as a woman (hehehehe). I had great fun in front of the net messing with the guys - pushing, shoving, placing my stick on the side of their edge so they lose their balance. It's all about leverage, digging my edges in and keeping my knees bent and a lot of core work to maintain my center of gravity and balance. Timing too....that little shove/push, lift of the stick at the right time would be just enough to cause them fits and keep them from getting a shot off. That was *crazy-fun*! I may not see too much end-to-end action in the co-ed league but I can certainly be a total pain-in-the-ass (all 5'4" of me, LOL) to anyone who dares to camp in front of the net and my goalie. We ended up losing 5-1, though. Our goalie, Paul, kept us in the game as we were easily outshot 2-1. The good news is that we won't be playing this team again because the league is still sorting teams out into the appropriate division and they'll probably get placed one level up. Thank goodness because I my legs and arms can't take an entire season of bruising from the hacking and slashing (nice non-call, ref).

My women's league (SWHC), on the other hand, is kicking ass! We Want Fries (yes, that is our team name) is now 2-0. Our team gel'ed immediately and we play our positions like we've been playing together for many seasons. After our last win, I thought I saw Coach Murray wipe a tear from his eye (hahahaha). Tears of joy? Or, was he trying his best to stifle a gut-busting laugh? Maybe he just has overactive tear ducts. I've got a couple of goals under my belt and no time in the sin-bin...though, I thought for sure I was going to get thrown in at our last game and so did everyone else on the other team and the crowd (the handful that showed up anyway). I received a lot of good fun heckling from everyone but got the last laugh when the other person got thrown in instead. Woot!

So, the two sides of ice hockey: the women's league for refining my skills and the camaraderie, and; the co-ed league where I can go all out when it comes to aggressive, competitive play.

Oh, I'm Just A Girl...

I had a recent visit from my friend, Tricia, who was up from San Francisco. And, here's proof that a visit with JRitchie in the northwest does not always mean a mandatory Bataan death march up one of the many hills that are in her neighborhood, nor a lung-busting cycling trip....not even a hint of going into the cold water for an excursion on some man-powered water vessel to look for marine mammals out in the wild as opposed to the safety of marine-parks where you can gaze at the 'monsters' from the other side of the glass while chowin' on a soft pretzel chased down with an ice cold diet coke.

My dear urban friends, I am still quite capable of having fun in the city, getting giddy (almost light-headed) trying on a bunch of senseless (and painful, but HOT) shoes while imagining all the cute outfits I could wear out with them, play for what seems like hours at the MAC counter trying on the new eye colors and lipstick then obsessing about #212 Sephora eyeliner that I MUST HAVE to go with my new MAC dual color pack. And, finally, hunting down the perfect accessories (hat & scarf) to go with the huggable, newly purchased gray sweater (that also matches my new eye colors perfectly). Oh wait, I forgot about trying all those clothes at Zara (I now dub Bi-zarra...what chaos!) and then walking out with nothing (haha) and leaving a wake of discarded, partially rolled-up clothes that will be carefully folded and put away by the staff only to have to have it thrown willy-nilly by the next potential (or not, like me) customer.

Oh, and food..and wine! Let's see....first, Tricia and I stuffed ourselves at Ipanema in downtown Seattle - a Brazilian rodizio. For all you carnivores, you must visit a rodizio. It's a meat-fest. Rotisseried meat in every which way or form....from top sirlion to sausages to chicken drumettes and bacon-wrapped something or other (by then, I was waaaay past the food coma stage and ready to stretch out in our comfy booth for an afternoon siesta). In San Francisco, there's Espetus, and in Palo Alto there's Pampas. With a flip of a disc (green means 'go' and red means 'stop'), you can pace your meat-fest. There's also a great salad bar (yummy beet salad, and all the asparagus I could stuff), and the sides bar where you can load up on the potatoes, rice, or beans. After that, we waddled up to Pike Place Market....one thing for sure, the meat-fest killed my craving for the mini-donuts I usually buy and for other stupid little snacks (or non-food purchases) that I tend to make when I go there. But, I did go home with a couple of splendid bouquets of fresh cut flowers.

On a brief overnight trip to Vancouver, Tricia and I went to Earls after walking around the city. There, we noshed on little plates of food while throwing back a bottle (OK, 2) of wine...which was then followed by several nightcaps each of Baileys on the rocks. (Ouch, that bill!). Just a wee hangover the next day and mud on my boots (the infamous next-morning quote "how did that get there").

So, there....you can take the girl out of the city, but I guess the city will always be a wee part of this girl. Tricia, I had a blast (as I always do) but I am still recovering from your visit (LOL). I can't wait to see the rest of my Bay Area friends soon. However, on my visit, I will need to pace myself and head out to the coast for some peace of mind, or up Mt. Tam for a few lung-busting hikes just to cleanse my system before toxicating it again later on in the night when you all come out of your natural-light deprived cubicles, or filtered-aired offices for a few hours of laughter, woots, and good fun. My joints will thank you all for the break, but my lungs, and muscles will make me pay, that's for sure.