Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!


       Any resolutions? I’d like to start being a little easier on myself, learn how to pick my battles and stop checking Twitter a dozen times throughout the day.
Maybe I should also resolve to actually stay up until midnight to see the New Year in. But then again, beauty rest is important.

Oooh, by the way, the Winter Classic is tomorrow! Hmm, Sidney…OV… I just can’t choose. Sid is having a stellar season and Ovechkin is hockey’s rock star.
Whoever ends up winning doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the game of hockey is being taken outside where it was born. Hopefully the weather holds out. Go Penguins! Wait, Go Caps! Oh, hell, I just can’t decide!!!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Oh, Zhenya!


       Re-read the press release about Nabby’s St. Petersburg departure. Noticed that his agent kept calling him Zhenya which is his Russian nickname. Huh. They call Evgeni Nabokov "Zhenya" and Alexander Ovechkin "Sasha". That’s adorable. 
       Oh, well, Evgeni will always be Nabby to me!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

This is the stuff I live for...


Just caught another episode of HBO’s 24/7 Capitals/Penguins. It is a rare and exciting look at hockey and all the fascinating stuff that goes on behind the scenes. People, this is how hockey was meant to be watched. Uncensored and pure and raw. Besides the fact that HBO crew and cameras capture angles of the sport like nobody’s business, the show gives us a glimpse into the locker room and lets us hear what goes on on the ice without someone man-ing the censor button. Kudos to HBO for giving us a backstage pass to this passionate and emotional sport.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Gucci Genius

Today I watched a little film called A Single Man starring Colin Firth. It was produced and directed by Tom Ford. It was beautiful, touching and a word that I don’t use very often: lovely.
       When Tom Ford left Gucci it was heartbreaking to see him leave the fashion world and I’ve been anxious to see what he’s been up to out in Hollywood. I know he left fashion to pursue the movie biz and I was pleasantly surprised by this little gem of a movie, A Single Man. The filming was spectacular and I hope to see more of Mr. Ford’s work in the future.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Oh, Romola, You Capture My Heart!

       As some of you may already know, I am somewhat smitten by actress Romola Garai. She inspired the character Ally in my book Home Ice and she basically is Ally Monroe to me.
Romola was incredible in the movie Rory O’Shea and stunning in Emma. Well, this week I watched I Capture the Castle (again). I hadn’t seen it in a couple years and I fell in love with her all over again when I did. The movie’s quirky family is reason enough to watch it, but the standout performance by Miss Garai is amazing. 
I can’t help but wish that she made more mainstream movies so I could see more of her, but then again maybe that’s what makes her all the more special.
Oh, Rom, you will forever be my muse!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Dear Nabby,

Back in the U.S. of A.!? I still can’t believe it’s true.

Nabby, Nabby, Nabby. All year I have scoured the KHL website for a glimpse of you since you left the NHL this summer. I was heartbroken when you left and even more distraught to find that you weren’t having the greatest season in Russia. And now, you announce that you have gotten out of your contract with SKA St. Petersburg and are returning to the US. I’ve had a couple of days to let it all sink in and I’m still in shock.
Sure, I’m sad that your return to your home country couldn’t be as successful as I’d hoped, but I have to rejoice in the fact that you are coming back. I’ve said in the past that it would be difficult to see you wear a jersey other than the Sharks, but I don’t care what colors or logo you are wearing as long as I get to see you play! I wish you all the success in the world and hope to hear which team you are signing with soon.
P.S. I hope you kick butt with your new team and win a freakin’ Cup already!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Good News!

       It was just reported that Nabby might be coming back to the NHL! I’d rather see him in a different team’s jersey that not at all. I really hoped he would find success in St. Petersburg, so I continue to wish him the best back in the States. Now I don’t have to wait four years for his contract to run out! Yay!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

:(

This sad news hit close to home.


On November 5, Randy Miller, the drummer of The Myriad passed away from cancer. I love, love, love The Myriad’s music and listened to them nonstop while writing Home Ice. Their song - You Waste Time Like A Grandfather Clock - brilliant. He was only 39 years old. So, so young. Grab someone you love today and give ‘em a squeeze. Life is too damn short.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Mars News

       Hey! 30 Seconds to Mars won Best Rock Video at the VMS’s!!! So excited that others out there are recognizing the talent and overall greatness of Jared & Company. Their grand entrance to the ceremony on their bikes was pure genius. Oh, Jared, I still can’t believe how fortunate I was to get to see you perform in Oakland. 
       If you haven’t checked out their newest album This Is War yet, what are you waiting for? Go to itunes, Amazon, etc and check it out now!!! P.S., They have also made some of the best music videos ever. 

Kontinental Hockey League

I think I must be the only American with the Russian hockey league website bookmarked on my computer. (If there’s anyone else out there, let me know!) It isn’t very often that I get to use the “translate” option on my computer. I was ecstatic to find an article about Nabby being welcomed to his new team. He now plays for SKA St-Petersburg. It’s so strange to see him in a non-teal jersey. Oh, Nabby, I will miss you!
In Sharks news, everyone is speculating on who will wear the “C” this season now that Blake has retired. In my opinion, Dan Boyle should be captain. No one else really jumps out at me as captain material. I’m hearing a lot of Joe Thornton suggestions, but he doesn’t really do it for me. Oh, well, whoever ends up with the captaincy will be fine with me as long as they’ve built a team that can make it through the playoffs this year. Successfully.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Newbies

       Buh-bye Nabby, Hello Nitty. And Hello Niemi. Anyone else notice a theme here???

Well, the Sharks now have two Finnish goaltenders and I’m still having Nabby withdrawals...

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Sun Still Shines


9/8/10


I found out today that Rich Cronin (from the band LFO) passed away today. The news saddened me as I think back to all the times I rode in my car with their album cranked up. LFO isn’t the type of music I typically listen too, but there was something so peppy about it that you couldn’t help but be in a good mood when listening to it. 
       Rich was only 36 and had battled leukemia for the past several years. I didn’t know he had also released a solo album, so I promptly downloaded it and when I listened to it, the lyrics brought tears to my eyes. He was only four years older than me and today was another reminder to live life to the fullest because you never know which day is going to be your last. 
       Thanks for the memories Rich, Life Is Good.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Keane Concert ♥ Fox Theater, Oakland, California


Got back late last night/this morning from the Keane concert in Oakland. The show was AH-MAZING! Let me start at the beginning… Fran Healy from Travis opened and he was fantastic. He came on stage all by himself with just a guitar and a microphone. It touched me so profoundly, I was bawling like a baby. It was the most pure and beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. He played a couple of Travis songs and some new songs he’d never played live before that are going to be on his new solo album. 
Next up was Ingrid Michaelson. She is a little folksy for my taste, but her band was good and they mixed things up with an odd Vanilla Ice/Fresh Prince/Britney Spears number. 
And finally, Keane. It was as if Tom Chaplin flew down from heaven and sang us some songs. He has the voice of an angel and he looked better than ever with new hair. (From what I could see through my tear-streaked contact lenses!) They played all the songs I wanted them to and Tim Rice-Oxley was brilliant on piano. This was probably the greatest concert I’ve ever been to. (30 Seconds to Mars in May was a tough one to top. Sorry, Jared.)
If you’re not familiar with Keane or Travis’ music, I highly recommend you check them out. Hopes and Fears is my personal favorite.
No more concerts until Paramore in September…


keanemusic.com

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Eye Candy

On Netflix, I came across a little something called Gods of Football: The Making of the 2009 Calendar. Oooh wee!!! They need to make more of this kind of thing for women. All of these men were gorgeous and when they spoke, Oh my gravy!, the Australian accent nearly killed me. At 1hr. 20 min. long, I had to break it up into a few different sessions because all that semi-naked maleness was a bit overwhelming in one dose. 
It was a very well-made hunkumentary and the photography was phenomenal. The locations were beautiful too, but let’s say I wasn’t really focused on the palm trees. Oh, and they made the calendar to raise awareness for breast cancer, so I dare you to find something wrong with this. I find it hard to believe there are so many real men who look like this, but apparently there are and they are all living in Australia playing rugby. Excuse me while I get on the internet and find out how to get my hands on a copy of this lip-smacking, drool-inducing calendar.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

It Might Get Loud...

I just finished “It Might Get Loud” an incredible documentary about Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge. What an amazing movie! If you have any appreciation for music, get your hands on this immediately. My mind was blown at how three artists from threes different countries, with different influences, different styles, could come together and play beautiful music together.
       Originally, I tuned in only because of Jack White as I am a long time White Stripes fan, but I was equally entertained by glimpses into the lives and talent of Page and The Edge. The music in “It Might Get Loud” made my heart so happy, it nearly jumped out of my ribcage and did a little jig on the floor. I give it five stars out of five.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Nabby Nostalgia...

  Well, it’s official. Evgeni Nabokov has signed with the KHL and is going back to Russia. After all the hub-bub - negotiations, salary caps, blah-blah, the rumor mill can cease pumping out speculation. I have mixed feelings about seeing him go! I’m sad that we won’t get to watch him play on tv anymore, but it would have been strange to see him in different jersey anyway. He was my favorite Shark and I even stole his jersey # for Ben Price in Home Ice
I could tell when Nabby was in goal without even looking at the name on his jersey because I recognized his stance. I’ll miss his cute little shoulder shrug he’d do to adjust his gear in between plays. I’ll miss his candid interviews with the press where he would always answer in earnest, honesty and sometimes slight irritation. I’ll miss what I call the “Nabby Tap“, when all the Sharks lined up to take turns bumping foreheads with him at the end of their games. 
I am happy for him, though. He gets to return to his homeland and continue making the big bucks. As we all know, there is nothing wrong with going back home.
Good luck, Nabby!  Thanks for a decade of memories in San Jose.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

On a sad note...

Today the Sharks announced that they are not offering a contract to goaltender Evgeni Nabakov. I think most, if not all, Sharks fans saw this one coming after our recent “trends” in the playoffs. I find myself feeling both sad and optimistic about the news. On one hand Nabby is/was my favorite player on the team. I am so fond of him that I based a character in Home Ice (Alexandre “Sebby” Sebastien) after him. 
       On the other hand (or glove), it was inevitable after his performance(s) during the playoffs. He has been stellar during the regular season and then seemed to tank when we needed him the most during that final push for the Cup. Maybe now San Jose will be one step closer to finally making it happen this year. Here’s hoping his departure is not for naught. 
       Good luck Nabby, wherever you end up. You will always be the original Number 20.

Writer's Block

Knock on wood, I have yet to experience this horrible beast. If anything, I have too many ideas and am constantly scrambling for a pen and scratch of paper to capture them all. 
Mostly, I’ve experienced the phenomena of Writer’s Laziness and Writer’s Distraction. Some days, or weeks (gasp!), I push my characters aside (they don’t always take kindly to that) and focus on anything and everything else. I’ll watch mindless reality television shows for no other reason than that I like to make fun of people from the comfort of my living room. Sometimes I’ll even organize my kitchen or my closet to avoid submersing myself into the fictional world I’ve created. 
My biggest vice, I have to admit, is the SIMS. Now, I l-o-v-e, love this game and have probably racked up hundreds of hours playing it. Which is ironic because in its own way, it’s just another fictional world I’ve created with characters I’ve custom made as well. So, in the end, I’m not really escaping anything at all.
I imagine I would have written a hundred books by now if it weren’t for that horrible, wonderful little game that I wouldn‘t trade for anything. In a way, I suppose SIMS is my ice cream. If ice cream didn’t exist, than I’d be skinny too!

A Picture's Worth

Last week, San Jose Sharks Captain Rob Blake retired from hockey. He wasn’t one of my favorite players on the team, so I wasn’t overly emotional as I would have been if it were, say, Dany Heatley or Dan Boyle hanging up his skates, for example. (Gotta have my Dan(n)y’s!) 
Later, I was cruising around the Shark’s website and came across the photo gallery from Blakie’s press conference. One photo in particular struck a chord with me for several reasons. The photo was a simple shot of the audience, which included some of Rob’s former teammates. Sitting in a row were Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabakov, Devin Setoguchi and 3 former LA Kings players to their left. To the naked eye, they’re just six regular guys in an audience. But when I saw the picture, it made me grin from ear to ear. 
First off, Patty looks dashing, yes, I said dashing, in slacks and a polo so fitted that it is barely able to contain his bulging biceps. (I’m not exaggerating, I swear.) 
Next to him, Nabby is wearing jeans and a button down shirt and looking so adorable it makes you want to tuck him into your pocket and keep him with you always. 
Finally, Seto is sporting plaid shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops, the epitome of casual, where everyone at least had the respect to put on real shoes after coming from the pool. You’ve gotta love it because its typical Seto style and I half expect to see his custom guitar slung over his shoulder. The other players seated next to my beloved Sharks are all three wearing almost identical suits. 
       “My boys” looked so incredibly cute in this photo each with their own individuality that I had to say something about it. What can I say? Hockey players have that effect on me.


Here is the link to the photo. (Pic 9 of 16)