Guess Who's Back? Back Again....

So not much feedback from yesterday's post - not sure if that's good or bad. You should have learned by now that I never run out of things to talk about. Today starts the first of many many "Top Lists". I guess maybe the 2nd since I did list the best concerts that I've been to a couple of weeks back.

Remember that the NHL starts again today after a year off while they cry and complain about needing an extra million dollar raise in order to feed their families. I blame both the owners and the players when it comes to crap like that. The only losers out of the deal are us the fans that can't afford to go to the games anymore. No, I don't think I just called everyone reading this a loser.

But since I have nothing else to talk about today other than hockey, here are some of the rule changes for this year (for those who don't get out much) and my take on them.

New Zones - more room in the attack zone thanks to moving the goal line back two feet towards the end boards and the neutral zone is smaller as well. This gives more room for the power play and hopefully some more scoring opportunities. Most of the new rules were implemented to get more goal scoring. They've done the same with the NBA and with MLB by building smaller parks in order to get higher scoring which they feel is why people are out there. I hate seeing football type scores in baseball and it didn't work in the NBA (probably because all the players are too dumb to realize the changes) but I don't think the scores will be that outrageous this year. Less of a neutral zone is fine by me.

Two-line Passes.... GONE - this one's pretty cool. For those that never could understand what the two line pass was in hockey, well - it doesn't really matter anymore. There will be a HUGE advantage to the quicker skaters and break away goal opportunities will be increasing a ton. This seriously will make me watch a whole lot more this year!

Smaller Goalie Equipment - reduced "11 percent" and should allow more goals, or allow more dramatic saves by some of the game's best!

Goalie Trap Zone - there is a new triangle behind the net now... in that area and the area in front of the goal are the ONLY areas that the goalie can handle the puck. Sorry - guess it's called a "trapezoid" area. My bad. If the goalie handles it in the corners, it's a 2 minute minor penalty.

SHOOTOUTS - I was unsure about this, but there will now be NO more ties. I know a lot of the fair weathered hockey fans hate ties so I can see how this will help with the fans. After the 5 minute overtime (4 on 4 for that OT), if it is still tied (most likely will be) the teams send 3 players each in a shootout. Pretty sweet. I don't think this will pertain to the post season. That would suck. There's nothing better than Overtime Playoffs! Seriously.

There are some other rule changes but those are the main ones. I know I'm looking forward to it. GO RED WINGS!!!

So I'm correct with 2 of my 3 picks for baseball after yesterday. We'll see what happens today. GO BRAVES!!

Iowa State plays Baylor this weekend and I'll be at the game again. GO CYCLONES!!

I'm flying home Friday morning back to Rochester..... GO ME!!!!

Oh - and my nephew Elliott had another soccer game but did not score any goals. He still enjoys it though so I'm sure even Beckham didn't score in EVERY game he's ever played in. He'll pick it back up in the next game. GO ELLIOTT!

Song of the Day - the only thing on the radio anymore is Kelly Clarkson. Heard 3 different songs of hers on the way in this morning on 3 different stations on XM. Now I have the dang SINCE YOU WERE GONE going through my head. Although not a bad song, it does linger which I don't like one bit. She's doing well right now and I'm all for it as I think she was the best American Idol winner. The rest have just been crap.

Video of the Day - nothing new to share here. I see Robots just came out on DVD and I'm a huge Robin Williams fan so I'm excited to see it. Anyone have any reviews to share?

Webpage of the Day - http://tv.yahoo.com/news/ap/20051004/112846962000.html U2 gets an entire Conan O'Brien show to themselves on Thursday. Need to remember to tell the roommate to Ti-Vo it for me. That's gonna be pretty sweet! Only the greatest band alive gets that kind of treatment!

ENJOY THE DAY!!!

Busy Day?

So I thought about discussing the political matters that have come up the past couple of days..... but not in that mood today. I'd piss too many of you off I think. Maybe tomorrow. Send me an email if you want to hear it and I'll consider it.

This week has been pretty busy so far, just like last week. I've been frustrated at work with day to day issues, reading about things in the world gets me depressed at times with all the suffering and fighting. But last week I read this in one of my daily devotions and it hits home so well. I thought I'd take today to share it with you. (Thanks to Pico for this being his devotional email... let me know if you'd be interested in getting a daily devotional and I can forward it to you every day or have Pico add ya).

Read Psalm 104:1-9

Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.

Prepare to meet your God, O Israel! For lo, the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals his thoughts to mortals, makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth -- the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name! -Amos 4:12-13 (NRSV)

MY day had been frustrating. I woke up to news of my nation at war and soldiers dying. I went to three meetings and listened to petty disagreements. My drive home included an encounter with an angry driver who cursed at me. When I walked into the house, I smelled something burning; I heard on the radio news of murder; and I read a list of who in the family needed to be where at what time and what needed to be repaired.

My head whirled. Then I saw the Bible open to the passage in Amos I'd read that morning. It offered me peace, calm in the storm, and God's power overflowing. I realized that God could change my attitude toward this chaotic day.

In a time of political chaos, Amos asked Israel to prepare to meet God. This morning, Amos reminded me that the weight of the world I live in is like a feather for God to lift from my shoulders. An hour ago I was frustrated,discontented, and weary. Now my frustrations look smaller, God looks big, and my hope is restored.

Pennie S. Hoover (California, U.S.A.)

I again realize that everything I go through in a day is insignificant when compared to who's in charge upstairs. Something to help you through that next rough day. Another favorite of mine is Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Think about the power of that statement and realize it is very true! I try to live by that statement that's usually why I have very few fears in life. Those that know me that I have very few inhibitions and live life to the fullest. Mainly because I know that with everything I do, I have God at my side and his promise of having me live with him forever always on my mind.

Hope this helps someone out there. Like I said, I'm full of surprises for some of you out there.

Song of the Day - Thanks to Jen (Rochester's own 'J-Lo'), I have Wake Me Up When September Ends going through my head. That and XM Radio plays it every 5 minutes on a different channel. Plus it's the beginning of October (doesn't feel like it outside but imagine it is really October with me) so I'm awake now!! I'm going to remake the song and call it Wake Me Up When It's Payday or Wake Me Up When The Bathroom Is Free.

Video of the Day - So I know I'll hear crap about it, but I just finished watching the opera Tosca by Puccini on DVD. I would love to see it live someday because it's an incredibly rich and beautiful opera (one of Puccini's more famous Operas) that of course ends in tragedy. It's funny how all the classic stories (think about Shakespeare and about 99% of the Opera world) always end up in tragedy. I love Romeo and Juliet because of the strength of love but also the tragedy it brings. That's kind of how Tosca goes as well - a woman who betrays her lover and puts his life in danger thinks she has done the right thing to eventually save him. In the end, her plan fails and he ends up dead, so she kills herself. You lost yet? That should be the new title of my blog page... You Lost Yet?

Webpage of the Day - Fainting goats..... I want one! Wonder if my Home Owners Association would let me have one. I'd keep it chained to the house!! Thanks again to Wyatt for the suggestion.

Have a great day!!

Oh yeah - Happy Birthday Paul - you old man you!

Hiking in Burlington

No, not hitch-hiking although I find it safe enough here that I could go hitch-hiking. So after getting every pick wrong from Saturday, I think I might be the worst fortune teller in the history of the earth. Dang Cyclones had a chance but as they always do with McCarney at the helm, they can't win the games that matter! Dangit!

Went hiking on Sunday with my teammate from Rochester. He found us Camel's Hump about 30 miles from Burlington to go climb up since it was so perfect of an afternoon. It was a lot of fun but showed how out of shape I am still even though I have been working out this past year and losing weight. I can do 3.5 miles on the elliptical machine no problem, and do 30 minutes on the stairmaster without problems... but do some actual hiking on multi-level terrain is something totally different. No, I didn't make it to the top although after looking at these pictures, I'm kind of wishing I would have gone the full way. There is no snow up there but a ton of trees and most of them have started to change colors. Was just nice to get out in the middle of nowhere and enjoy nature.

Here are some pictures to enjoy that I took. Might actually frame one or two of these for my new townhouse:




















It was a good afternoon to say the least:) This week I'll still be here in Burlington, not sure about the whole week or not - depends on how work goes the next couple of days. But on tap for sure yet is a visit to the Headquarters of Ben & Jerry's!! I'll let you know how that goes!! They don't make ice cream on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays so I'll have to go on Tuesday for lunch. I think it's only about 20 minutes from here. Yum yum.

Sorry for the short post today but figured I'd keep it short today for once. If you can call this short!

Song of the Day - So I finally watched Purple Rain the movie with Prince/Symbol-Man/&$^! (mix all of those together to make his symbol)/Artist formerly known as Prince/Artist... it's a weird movie and the acting is pretty bad but I now have Purple Rain going through my head which thanks to Jeff K from my buddy Chad's wedding last year (Happy Anniversary Chad and Courtney btw - on Saturday), I now consider that one of the greatest slow songs EVER for a wedding. Going to have this going through my head all night though I'm afraid:(

Video of the Day - Per Rachael (my sister-in-law) - I watched Eulogy. Interesting movie with Rip Torn, Ray Romano, Kelly Preston (who is one of the hottest women on the planet I've decided... just go watch Jerry McGuire... on second hand, watch the first 10 minutes when she's screaming and .... then shut it off before it gets shitty for the next 110 minutes)..... but it also has Hank Azaria who does half the voices on the Simpsons!!! He was pretty funny as he always is. Back to Kelly Preston... she plays a lesbian who is getting married to Famke Janssen so that alone is reason to watch:)

Webpage of the Day - I'm in an artsy fartsy mood again today (get used to it) so here's something to appease your visual senses (no not more pictures of Kelly Preston although that's a thought). http://www.liquidsculpture.com/galleries.htm Liquid Sculpture has some incredible pictures of drops.... you have to go there to see what I'm talking about. But my favorites are in the Milk and Cream section, and some of the Squirts section. The Pournography section is pretty funny too! I hope you enjoy this one - it's quite unique!

Have a great day! And a great week!!!