Amazing Shopping Trip Today (12/30)

My boss called me yesterday to tell me my pay check was in--nothing like your boss's number on caller ID to get the heart beating faster on a day off. I figured I'd go in today (another day off) and pick up my check and also pick up some gear. I played two games today--one goalie, one as a skater--so I got to try it all out right away.


about $260 worth of gear, that I got for about half that--AW YEAH employee discount plus trading stuff in!

Those are used goalie breezers up there. I only had one pair of breezers so I kept moving them between my bags and it was just not a good situation. Plus, player breezers aren't meant for tending goal (protection wise I was fine, comfort wise not so much--goalie breezers are shorter so they don't interfere with your leg pads. they are more protective, too, but for what I was doing in them, wasn't a big deal).

The new ones felt GREAT and I felt confident just pulling them on. We tied that game 3-3. I finally saw a little action after a couple slow games and started to get more comfortable--after giving up the third one, I really shut it down and I'm proud of a couple saves I made near the end of the game.

The other thing I needed was a decent stick. I've been using a cheap-o wood one--no clue how I've made it this long without an upgrade. The stick I picked up was originally almost a $200 stick (one notch below top of the line), it was turned in used, and I got it for about $60. The stick was AMAZING tonight at my player game, felt like the puck just found it. They say the stick is only as good as the person who wields it, but an upgrade from a twenty buck wood one to a $200 composite one DEFINITELY makes a difference.

We also tied that game, 0-0, but I felt great out there--a great shot, a great pass, some good D play, good work along the boards--so I wasn't too disappointed.

I wanted new elbow pads, but I'm kinda disappointed with the ones I picked up--didn't really like the old ones, but these aren't much better. :( Might just be one of those things. LOVE the shoulder pads though, they fit perfect. I wasn't even going to get those, but one of my coworkers was joking around like "what else do you need?" so I tried those on and absolutely loved them. It's tough to find shoulder pads that fit over a woman's upper body (and I've got a lot to fit over) but these just hugged me perfect. Very happy with them!

And the aftermath of two games in one day? Besides the two-hour nap I took in between?


I need a bigger apartment.

I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, but.... (11/30)

Puck gets more comfortable all the time. She's been a cuddler since the beginning, but she started very slow, making sure of me. I've enjoyed bonding: I don't think she's ever had her own human, and I know I've never had my own cat, so we both learn.

She's been testing out my keyboard with short trips. Until today.


"This seems like the perfect place for a bath."


"A nice long one. I'm super dirty, I swear."

this goes on for some time, then

"You looking at me?"


"Don't care if you are looking at me, I'm not looking at you."



"You're getting sleepy...very sleepy..."


"Wait, that's me."


"Good place for a bath, better place for a nap."

I just sat there laughing and telling her not to get used to it.

Fall. (10/30)

an image from my lovely half mile walk from and then to the auto repair shop for an oil change.

We have had the most gorgeous fall here in Minnesota. Usually it's a blink or you'll miss it thing, one day it's 70 and the next it's snowing, one day the leaves are green and then they're blown off before they even have a chance to change. This year, we have had so many different colors, basically a new type of tree/bush has exploded with vivid brightness each week, and then they leisurely make their way down to the ground to fill the ground with color and a lovely crunch-crunch--no slogging because we've had very little rain and no snow at all.

I wish I'd taken more pictures because it's truly been incredible.

Some things I love about my apartment (9/30)

When I first found this place, I fell totally in love with it. It has a lot of old-school charm, being built in like 1920 or so. But not out of date or falling apart, as the kitchen had been recently updated and everything painted.



It's also a corner apartment with a ton of light and bright wood floors.



Big old registers--kind of a pain for putting furniture out, but still, aesthetically pleasing.



A painting I bought in Spain that I love love love. Plus the colors go so well with my walls.



The breakfast nook in the kitchen just might be the best thing of all time.



Especially since it's one of the places I've actually decorated thematically.



Though the best thing in my apartment is this little furball.

A little bit of bragging (8/30)

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."

The wisest of words by Margaret Thatcher.

My cat refuses to "fall back" and woke me up around 7:15 for cuddles. There's no better way to start the day than with a purring furball on your chest, even if it is early. <3 Anyway I was awake, so I started on the following to do list.

1. Pay bills (electric, cable/internet, renter's insurance, car insurance)
2. Make an appointment for an oil change.
3. Find and call a vet for a cat check up.
4. Return phone message from insurance agent.
5. Get checks together to send to the bank.
6. Call the eye doctor for more contacts.
7. FINALLY call this company who was supposed to send me a replacement phone case about a month ago.
8. Email a former professor and a new contact from the conference last week (the ONLY thing I didn't get to--but today isn't over yet)

....and then it was about 10:30am!

I went shopping and picked up all the stuff on my list and more--like the tree which I've been thinking about for a year, and a sweater which is so perfect I could've designed it myself.

When I got home, I hung four pictures out of the ten I have to put up, and I set up the tree. I took a lovely two hour nap. Then, tonight, I played a GREAT hockey game--we tied 3-3 and I did a lot of awesome stuff including a sweet assist.

And now I'm completing my second blog post of the night.

So, basically, I'm up for the "Most Productive Day of All Time" award. My acceptance speech will go like this "I'd like to thank George Vernon Hudson for inventing daylight savings time and my cat for not understanding it!"

It's November 9th. I'm not usually one of those people. (7/30)

In my defense, it was on sale.


Puck says "what is that thing??" As soon as I'm sure she won't attack it, I'll add the ornaments.

Arrrrugh. Also, Packages. (6/30)

Missed another day, didn't I? Well I have two days off now so I hope I can catch up. :( Too bad I have to be an Adult tomorrow and do a bunch of Adult Things like pay bills and get an oil change and make phone calls. Meh.

Anyway! I've had a very exciting past week or so opening my mailbox!

My friend April sent me this stuff.

A Spiderman comic and lots of postcards from Spain, and a page torn from the Oilers game magazine with one of my favorite players. Plus a very sweet note. This package came on a day when I was kinda upset with some other friends--good timing.

My mom sent me an oddly shaped, small package.

After I guilted her into it when I was complaining about not being in college anymore--I was like "I miss my mom sending me care packages!"

Got some cookies, some Halloween candy, and a Boo Bob.

My friend Alice sent me these:

She understands my puck obsession better than anyone else. <3

Finally, my friend Lisa sent me this:

A recent Ice Time from a Pens game, and a Pens Calendar--much needed because my Wild one from last season ran out a month ago! And I didn't go to the opener this year for the first time in four years to get another one :(

I don't usually get so many packages, I have had quite the wealthy week! Now I need to start looking for fun things to send back to people...except Lisa because she owes me for helping her with a paper, lol.