Answering the Call

I.E. Yours truly somewhat goes Patti Smith on the Caniac Nation (or at least the members who happen to hang out at the Score Boards)...film at eleven.

I woke up to seeing the following posted at my most frequented Canes MB this morning...

OK, perhaps I'm missing something here--why does it seem that Debi and I are about the only ones here who wouldn't mind the Sens winning the Cup?

Did we suddenly develop a group hate-on for the Sens when I wasn't looking or something?

Naturally, everyone posted "Nope." and "Me too." or something of similar clique-like ilk...making me state that the following has been my opinion for sometime, without the need or want of being different from everyone else:

I don't want Ottawa winning the Cup.

And before I proceed with the following, I've met and I know nice Ottawa fans. But, I have my reasons and/or observations...

*insert canned Beatlemaniac and Elvis fan screams here* - In a phenomenon I have yet to be able to fully grasp in all five years thus far of being a Caniac/NHL fan/etcetera, the Ottawa Senators seem to be THE one opposing NHL team that bring out the inner puckbunny in the Caniac Nation. While I do have my tendencies in that vein (I *am* a female AND only human, afterall), I have just never found the Sens to be all that and a bag of a chips in those regards.

I can only imagine how much louder the swoons would get if Jose Theodore joined the Sens, be it as their star or just a mere backup (most likely behind Emery)... o_O

I Pity the Fools Who Pull For Dany Heatley - Well, maybe I'm being a little extreme in calling his fans "fools", but I just cannot pull for the dude who used to be such a thorn in the side of the Canes during his tenure with the Thrashers. Not to mention a certain accident I'm not supposed to mention again...and even though I know Heater highly regretted what he did, I still think he should have been penalized one way or another instead of simply being let go to play another day.

I Don't Like Daniel Alfredsson, Sam I Am - I won't go into elaborate detail on this...I just do not care for the guy. He tends to grate on my nerves as much as another so-called great captain in the Sabres' Daniel Briere. And just like the Sabres, the only thing Danny-Boy (Batman's butler-sson) is good for, besides crying a river at certain times, is Fantasy Hockey...

Actually, when one thinks about it, the Senators are basically Canada's Buffalo Sabres. Just without the mouthy coach and hoardes of drunks invading the opposing team's arena in addition to their own team's.

Anyways...with the Penguins out (no thanks to the Senators...as mentioned, I *am* only human), I am very hardpressed to find someone I *really* want to pull for in this year's playoffs. Between Ottawa and New Jersey, and Buffalo and the Rangers*, there is really no lesser of four evils in the East...leaving the West to look to. And therefore, only two teams I can really care for...Anaheim and Vancouver. The Canucks I'm willing to back up a little more thanks to knowing at least one friend in British Columbia's hub. The Ducks are appealing too, especially with my fond memories of backing them up in 2003...if only they didn't have that pukey and minor league-ish logo and uniforms... *sighs*

Despite fashion taste differences, I still say that this should be the Ducks' anthem.

Current Music: "Gates of Babylon" by Rainbow

* - The only good thing about that particular playoff series is that it constantly makes me think of one of Billy Joel's finer songs in "New York State of Mind"...

The InterNational Hockey League?

So, I was perusing the Toronto Maple Leafs Score Boards MB, when I happened upon this interesting little nugget...

"On TSN, MacKenzie said that the NBA plans on expanding there, and the NHL is thinking about it."

If that is true, one way or another, my feelings on such a matter are simple: If it's something like NFL Europe in that there is a branch of the league in the said continent that has next to no interaction with its North American mothership, then I have no beefs what-so-ever. BUT, if it has anything to do with the European branch counting as part of the NHL itself...no sir, I don't like it. There are already tons of complaints about travel and/or schedule with just North American teams...I cannot imagine how many more there would be if there was the remote suggestion of travel across the pond and back.

According to KingBrodeur in the linked Score Boards thread, there is a little more to this...

"The cities they mentioned as having teams are Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Berlin and Geneva to start. Then if the economies pick up, move east into Prague, Moscow, Riga etc.

McKenzie think it will happen within 20 years or so. Personally I think if it was to happen, it would have to be some sort of merger with leagues already over there.

I wonder if it gets up enough teams down the road, it would be like an NHL Europe, then the winners of NHL Europe and NHL NA would play each other for the cup.

But this is far in the future. They'll be more expansion in NA first. He also gave a Europe, then the winners of NHL Europe and NHL NA would play each other for the cup. list of cities, Las Vegas(within 5 years), KC, Portland, Seattle and Winnipeg were the main ones. I think there was one more but I don't recall..."

The only way I see a truly international NHL working is for it to be at least twenty-thirty years into the future, when enough teams are established to have two separate leagues, like the MLB, and/or transportation has advanced to the point that continental travel is as simple as an one-three hour plane commute. If the former happens in a somewhat short amount of time, then I think the best form of execution for such an idea would be to try to have the Stanley Cup Finals take place on neutral ice...be it somewhere in North America, Europe, or even Asia.

Speaking of Asia, if an NHL Europe is successful, I would not be the least bit surprised if they tried to expand into Europe's eastern neighbor. Especially given how the sport is only growing in popularity in some Asian countries, and there have even been a few NHL draft picks to hail from over there.

Current Music: "Heaven Knows Our Name" by Budgie

No, I'm Not Dead...

But I've been quite busy lately...

Thursday and Friday: Got my hair done at the salon and did a special Clinique spa and makeover at the nearby mall, respectively.

Saturday: Had a Subway lunch that could not be beat and did some hiking over at Pipestem State Park.

Sunday: Did some cleaning tasks that were much needed to be done.

Tuesday: Took my dog and cat to the vet and then did my weightbearing exercise for the week, thanks to Mountaineer Lanes' 99 cent rate every Tuesday. Also installed my new stereo...more on that when I get a chance to write about more.

Today: Helped my mom out with Curves' Bring A Friend day, and got to take in the Curves experience. I actually enjoyed it...but at thirty dollars a month (not including the sign-up fee!!), I think my stationary bike, walking/hiking, and bowling are sufficient enough. Also did some grocery shopping.

This weekend: Got company coming, and have to get ready for them...also get to look forward to playing bartender.

On the Canes fandom front...I got to see a little bit of Coach Laviolette trying his mouth at being an analyst in the VS. studio tonight. I was lucky enough to view the time of the night when he was feeling more comfortable and confident...according to some Score Boarders, he started out being a bit nervous. Overall, he was doing a great job for his first time...though, it was a little odd seeing Lavs singing the praises of the Sluggies... o_O Of course, guess it's kind of hard to not do that, considering how they wiped the Rangers tonight...

Current Music: "My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane

Better Late Than Never

As the title indicates, I'm a bit late in posting the news of Jim Rutherford's being re-signed as the Canes' General Manager for five more years. But, I shall make up for that with a startling revelation I discovered not super long ago about said man of the hour...

JR and Robert Fripp were separated at birth. I swear it, as a huge fan of the Canes AND King Crimson/Fripper.

Don't believe me? Check it out...

*insert dramatic hockey organ music sounding strangely like Frippertronics here*

That was the best looking picture of Fripper I could find...but, if only he had narrower glasses... o_O

Also on the belated Canes news front is the fact that the Canes also re-signed their goaltending consultant, Greg Stefan, who is now officially a head coach thanks to the deal. It should also be noted that because of the deal, Stefan may very well now officially be the longest lived goaltending consultant in the history of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise.

Last, but certainly not least, today is Michael a.k.a. Hockey Fanatic's birthday. Here's to wishing him a happy and hearty one, AND hoping that the Pittsburgh Penguins pull out a win in Ottawa not only for the sake of my sanity, what little there is left; but also and especially as a nice little present for Mike.

Current Music: "Angela (Theme From Taxi)" by Bob James (Featuring Earl Klugh)

25+ Shooting Victims At Virginia Tech

As not only someone who hates seeing stuff like this happen, but also someone not real far from Blacksburg...Oh. My. God.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the victims and their familes, AND all of the students and teachers at VPI. Cannot say enough what a heinous and gruesome tragedy this is...and how horrible that it had to happen in a nice town and region.

I read at either an UNC or Virginia Tech MB (been board hopping all over about this situation) that the rumor is that the gunman was hunting down an ex-girlfriend, and he got a lot of the dorm girls to line up, execution style, and tortured/taunted and shot them. Whether or not that is true, Hell is simply not good enough for that bastard.

Current Music: "The Fifth Second of Forever" by Hawkwind

Canes Re-Sign Ray Whitney

We interrupt a huge-a** addiction to Adventure Quest to bring you some berry, berry good news...

Turning an uneventful week* into quite an eventful one on the Canes news front, Ray Whitney got re-signed by ze Canes and "G.I. Jimbo"** Rutherford yesterday.

Unlike some fans, I am not at all surprised by Whitney's being re-signed, despite his being an Unrestricted Free Agent, had JR not signed him before July 1st. And it should be no surprise, considering that "The Wizard" was one of the only Canes to have a dynamite season (the other one being Rod Brind'Amour).

If there should be any surprise, it should be at the fact that Jimmy re-signed a major player before June. If that's not a record of some kind, I will eat a Canes cap.

Current "Music": Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel

* - Yeah, yeah, I know that the Stanley Cup Playoffs started and all that, and I'm following them. But, knowing how quite a few of you don't exactly care for the Pittsburgh Penguins, I thought I'd spare you from my fandom of them, save for the occasional and hopeful burst of celebration.

Should the Penguins falter in their quest for Lord Stanley, then GO PREDS!!

** - My loving nickname for the Canes' general manager...hailing from an episode of Rocko's Modern Life.

Hibachis and Dragons

*imitates a certain Shakespearian actor wannabe brought to you by Starburst*

Japanese food! Japanese food! I'm a crazy geek who loves Japanese food!

JAPANESE FOOD! JAPANESE FOOD! I'M A CRAZY GEEK WHO LOVES JAPANESE FOOD!!!*

THAT, my friends, totally sums up how I feel after a meal at Kimono. Yes, I got to eat at Kimono tonight, and it RAWKED my socks.

It was so freakin' good that I'm left thinking "Kanki? What Kanki?". Really and seriously...Kimono was not just better than Kanki, it completely obliterated it. Just let me name thy ways it did/does so...

- They offer HOT GREEN TEA. Yes, HOT GREEN TEA. The closest thing to tea Kanki ever offered, at least when my family and I were frequenters there, was the standard fare iced tea.

- Kimono's menu's variety is phenomenal...from the top of my head, the meats are: Steak (which looked to be Ribeye), Filet Mignon, Chicken, Shrimp, Scallops, and Salmon. Yes, SALMON. I know Kanki never had Salmon (just the boring trinity of steak, chicken, and shrimp), and I cannot recall Teppenyaki and Benihana in Orlando, FL ever having Salmon. As a matter of fact, one of those places is the only other Japanese eatery I know of that serves/ed Scallops.

In addition to the meat, you can not only get it prepared in the standard tempura and hibachi styles, but also teriyaki (done on the hibachi)!!

- The food is just SO. FREAKIN'. MUCH. BETTER. THAN. KANKI. PERIOD. As I was eating my more-than-just-scrumptious Filet Mignon, Scallops, and Fried Rice (along with two shrimp, courtesy of the chef being generous), it dawned on me that the said food is not as "greasy" like Kanki's now seemed to be. One thing I noticed is that they don't used globs upon globs of butter at Kimono like they do/did at Kanki...leading me to believe that just because it may be up Paula Deen's alley doesn't mean it will actually make for better food.

So overall...I think I am in love with Kimono, to the point that it just might be my most favorite restaurant in the Bluefield/Princeton area, even more-so than Macado's. It far surpassed my expectations. And who da thunk that little old Princeton, WV would get such a dynamite restaurant?! Incredible.

You know that saying about the best things in life are free? Well, for those of you who make gaming practically their life, it don't get better than free online RPGs...such as Adventure Quest and DragonFable. I'll probably end up paying the $20 fee somewhere down the road (I already like the AQ game enough that I am willing to do that), but for now, I find the free portion fine...I'm up to Level 20 and STILL have a ways to go to be battle-ready and off on the missions they provide. I love a challenge...

Current Music: "Sunshine Moonlight" - Sailor Moon

* - Thank goodness everything cannot be put into four syllables...advertising/marketing is already going to hell enough as it is. o_O

April 6th-7th, 2007 - Canes vs. Thrashers and Panthers: Random Musings and Observations

- I am quite glad that the crowd vs. the Panthers was A WHOLE LOT BETTER than it was vs. the Thrashers...was starting to get a bit worried that all that "Fan Appreciation Weekend" hype was all for naught.

- Speaking of Fan Appreciation Weekend...you'd love to think that FSN South would have finally had different RBC Center concourse shots of the Caniac Nation for such an event. As awful of me as it sounds, I couldn't help but LMAO everytime John Forslund said "And here is a wonderful shot of the Caniac Nation in attendance tonight!", and it would be the same freakin' shots of the mother and her three children wearing Canes goalie helmet masks OR the stand/kiosk selling sausages. Maybe it's just me, but I swear that CanesVision was a WHOLE LOT BETTER at having more variety with their concourse/arena shots up through last season.

- Things were getting hairy on the front of shutting up Olli Jokinen/Captain Peachfuzz's piehole. But the Canes got 'er done, ending a drab season in quite a bright manner. How appropriate given that it was Easter eve!

- That said...Happy Easter!! May you get plenty of chocolate and sunshine*!! Whoo-hoo!! :D

Oh, and let's not forget bunnies...lots and lots and lots of them. Afterall, what is Bunny Day without bunnies?

Current Music: "Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn

* - Downright lucky to have sunshine today here in beautiful downtown VA/WV. It's been snowing here a good chunk of this weekend! o_O

Edit as of 9:50 PM: And as the holiday winds down...a little something for those of you who aren't chocolate aficionados.

New Presences On Ye Olde Blogrolle

Thanks to a recent visit to CasonBlog (thanks for the recent acknowledgement! *waves*), I discovered a couple of more Carolina blogs...

Carolina On Ice

Jackie Manuel's Posse

Hey, didn't say they were both Canes related... ;P

*is thrilled to see another Tar Heel Caniac besides herself*

Also added Adrian Belew's official website and blog a few days ago...danged interesting reading and surfing there, especially for music and/or prog rock/"different" music afficionados.

Current Music: "I Got You" by Split Enz

A Long Overdue Miscellany Post

I hate when I go through a phrase of not feeling like writing much...especially when I've been in a good mood for the most part lately. Oh well...maybe this will get my fingers a'tappin' on the keys again...

- I got to eat at THE MOST AWESOME PLACE this past Saturday...The Log House in Wytheville, VA. It reminded me a lot of a restaurant outside of Chapel Hill, NC called The Farmhouse. BUT, I think The Log House is better. As much as I liked The Farmhouse and their steak and cheese spread and crackers, The Log House MURDERS them on the variety/menu front. In addition to the usual steak, seafood, salads, and desserts, The Log House menu features sandwiches, Italian, and Southwestern dishes. As a matter of fact, I had the Black Bean Quesadillas for lunch...and they were FANTASTIC. The quesadillas were as tightly wrapped as could be in the tortillas, with a nice amount of hot and spicy in the flavor. And not to mention how I had the best damn Kentucky Derby Pie that I've ever had for dessert, along with a great cup of coffee.

Another way that The Log House KILLS The Farmhouse is that TLH has a really nifty gift shop, which is located in the back of the building, where there is a garden. There, I found and got three neat Greco-Roman column decorations...which go nicely with a Tuscan wine bottle nightlight I got from a friend of my mom's not too long ago.

- Speaking of eateries...someone or something has finally answered my silent cries of "A Japanese Restaurant...MY KINGDOM FOR A JAPANESE RESTAURANT!!". Not too long ago, such an establishment called "Kimono" opened up in nearby Princeton, WV. And much to my further delight, Kimono is a hibachi restaurant JUST LIKE KANKI (in Raleigh, for you non-NCers)!! I'll so need to try Kimono ASAP...most likely on a weeknight, since I heard that the waits during the weekends can be up to four hours long!! O_O

If Kimono somehow ends up not being good, something I highly doubt with those four hour waits, there's another option in Fujiyama in Beckley, about thirty to forty-five minutes away.

- Between Wild Hogs somehow doing so well at the movies to the concept of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? actually being allowed on television, I highly fear for the state of good taste in this world.

While I'm at it...the marketing geek in moi cannot help but also bring up...

The Burger King "Spongebob No-Pants" Ad - Who the HELL greenlighted this idea?! I honestly don't know what kills me more...the highly squicksome ad itself, or the fact that it's actually being shown during children's shows and such!! That said, believe it or not, I am not a prude...but at the same time, I just don't think a man's bubbly neither regions would make anyone crave chicken tenders. Then again, what do I know since I am not one of Madison Avenue's finest...

The Checkers/Rallys "Rap Cat" - OK...I'll admit that I chuckled at this the first time I ever saw it during the Canes @ Tampa Bay game on TV not long ago. But after further delving, I can understand why one or two posters at Television Without Pity are ripping on the Cat. Bags for your cat to wear* AND the stuffed karaoke performer getting ITS OWN MUSIC VIDEO (AND POSSIBLY ALBUM TOO)?! And I thought the BK King getting his own X-Box 360 video games was going a bit far... o_O

- Last, but certainly not least...I've gotten an IMVU account. This will be the closest I'll ever come to having something similar to MySpace. What drew me to IMVU is the fact that the chat software acts a lot like a RPG video game...right down to creating your own characters and giving them their own weapons and powers AND their own lair of sorts.

Here's my character/avatar's page...feel free to add me back as a Buddy if you have an IMVU account or decide you want one.

Current Music: "Somebody's Out There" by Triumph

* - For that video's commentors' information...it's not about people not having a sense of humor about "Rap Cat", it's the fact that dressing cats in fast food doggy bags to look like a pathetic gimmick *is* a stupid idea. Get over yourselves.

April 3rd, 2007 - Canes @ Lightning: Random Musings and Observations

- At the risk of sounding like a horrible fan...I would have been right to bet money on tonight's outcome. Something deep down told me that the Canes winning and holding onto their playoff chances would be just too damned good to be true with this season's incarnation of Raleigh, NC's NHL pride and joy.

- The Canes are danged lucky that Tampa did not score more than they did...that said, holding back LeCavalier to one goal and St. Louis to no points at all is not an easy task. That much, the boys in red and black did right.

- Until the first period of tonight's affair, I never realized that the Green Acres theme* intro could be done in so many variations...and that's just on a hockey organ!! o_O Too many danged flashbacks of Forest Whitaker's dinnertime rendition of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" on Saturday Night Live...

- On the Tampa Bay feed, I saw a national brand commercial that was so "local ad"-ish, it hurt. Did you know that this year is Blue Bell Ice Cream's 100th anniversary? Neither did I, until employees' heads placed, Terry Gilliamation-like, upon the bodies of an eclectic band of sorts (I wanna say it was a jug and washboard band...but don't hold me to that) took thirty seconds of their time to remind me. Very needless to say, after beholding that spectacle that was just missing a cardboard cutout of Rod Serling on a popsicle stick, I hypnotically let out a "bzuh?".

- Well, with the Canes out of the playoffs...GO PENGUINS!!

That said...I may or may not cover the final two games. If I don't, then I got a question for those going...can you please, PLEASE get yours truly a 2006-07 Canes team photo poster if such a thing is given out? If so, PLEASE e-mail me. Thanks a bunch in advance!

Current Music: "When Love Comes To Town" by U2 and B.B. King

* - Everytime I hear ANY VERSION of the Green Acres theme, I'll always think of when my mom was put on hold in a phone call with some company, and the "on hold music" was TV themes...yes, TV themes. And one of those themes was the GA theme!! Bet that was quite as surreal as the show itself... o_O