Moments D671: Early bird catches the worm.....

.....or in this case the GOLD medal for men's hockey.

Mom, Dad & I were all up early this morning so we could watch the final match in men's hockey.   (After all, how could we call ourselves proud Canadians if we didn't?!!)

What an incredible game it was. They came out hard and fast, tweaked their game to better off-set the unexpected offence of the Swedes and kept fighting hard for the win right to the very end of the game.

It was a little surreal eating breakfast over a game of hockey, but I suppose that was a little less surreal than those drinking beer at 7 am today!

So very proud of our Team Canada this winter Olympics.  We ranked in third place in the medal standings in Sochi with a medal count of 25.  We had some spectacular moments this Olympics.  The first female bobsledders to earn two consecutive gold medal in the women's two-man event.   The bobsled crash, where no one was, miraculously, injured.   Sisters winning gold and silver medals in the same event.  Charles Hamelin, crashing out of his two top events.

Dreams being realized and others being dashed away.

We may not have topped our 2010 medal count, but Team Canada was impressive none-the-less.

Congratulations Team Canada.

Moments enjoying the Canadian sport of hockey.

Moments feeling pride for your country`s athletes.

Moments D670: Family Dinners

This afternoon I headed to Welland so that I could watch my nephew in his hockey tournament.  Typically such a visit is quick and I don't have much of a chance to really interact with my brother, SIL or my nephews.  I join them at the arena, spend some time with my SIL and younger nephew and then we all go our separate ways.  As fast as it is, I am always willing to make the drive, when I can, to cheer on my oldest nephew in the sport he loves.

As I sat enthusiastically cheering on my nephew (playing centre these days) I wondered where he would be in 10 years time.  He's only just turn 10, so there are many paths yet before him.  Will he still be playing hockey?  Would he push himself hard to ever make it to the Olympics?  (What can I say?  I have the Olympics on my brain!) Or, will he be more focused on learning?  Of course, I haven't any answers, but there was that moment today where I was pondering where he might go with his love of hockey.  (And boy-oh-boy does he love his hockey!)

While watching my nephew play is best was a heart-warming moment, the real moment today was a surprise family gathering.  The entire family was coming back for dinner after the game.  Not only my brother and his family, but my Big Sis and her family.  There was 11 of us in all.  What an incredible dinner it was.  Our food was simple, but perfect for the occasion and something we "kids" all love.  Spaghetti and meatballs with ceasar salad.  The dinner table was filled with fast moving conversations, silliness with my nephews and silliness with my "nieces".  Lots of laughter.  The only thing missing was my love.  (He's in California right now.)  I think we all missed him tonight.

I was so very happy that my Mom offered to pull this impromptu dinner together for everyone.  I may have only been in Welland for 18 hours, but I managed to see all my peeps.

That was pretty incredible.

Moments appreciating the effort Mom puts in to pull us busy kids together for dinner.

Moments loving and appreciating my family.

Moments D380: TML - Bandwagon or Convert?

It’s hockey playoffs. And I’m watching the games. By choice. On my own. ON MY OWN ALONE.

What has happened to me? I’ve never done that before on my own. Now, I’ve watched many a hockey game growing up, after all my brother played hockey, and my parents followed the Junior A & B local teams. But NHL? No, this is not something I do on my own. With friends, from time to time, yes. But on my own? What has happened?

Now, my BFF is a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan. I’ve been with her for a few games over the past couple of seasons. One particularly fun night not long ago we were four rows away from the ice and players in the ACC. Now that was a night! Honestly, I think she’s been rubbing off on me. After all, her fervor is hard to ignore! She’s the gal that brings her extra TML hat for me to wear. (And wear it I do!)

So, fear not dear readers, I really don’t believe I’m just a bandwagon jumper for the playoffs. I think, oh my, I think I’ve been converted!

Moments accepting I’m impressionable.

Moments of new interests.

Moments D317: Travelling Pucks

Today's moment is a series of photographs from my BFF.  The randomness of the travelling puck....

The trip home last night:

This morning's coffee:

Shopping:

Time for the lunch beer:

Home with the kittens:

Sleeping kittens:

Princess baby and the puck.  (Should that be a nursery rhyme?)

Time for bowling:

Home again with the demon cat:

Yes.  A fun, silly post today.

Moments waiting for the next photo.

Moments giggling at your BFF from a city away!

Moments D316: Surrealness

Tonight I had a last minute change in plans. A Leaf’s game. My BFF is the biggest fan I know. We were excited just to be going to an unexpected game.

A day earlier, we had other exciting news, which may not be public knowledge just yet, but it was worthy of a celebration. And then a hockey game falls into our lap.

My BFF and I go to one of our favourite pubs in the city. Now, Prohibition is no typical pub. It specializes in a gastronomic menu. It’s brilliant and a perfect way to start our celebratory evening out. Great start, right? A couple of glasses of wine a tasty Buckingham Blanket and off we go to the ACC.

AND WE FIND OUT WE ARE IN THE FOURTH ROW from the ICE!! It was surreal. Seeing the Leafs and the Senators playing that close. They seemed stronger and faster somehow!

AND it was an amazing game. Seconds into the game gloves are dropped and a fight breaks out. My BFF is giddy beside me. Between periods we chatted with the usher and the gents beside us. I post a couple of pictures to Facebook only to find out that an old friend from high school, that I haven’t seen in MANY moons (I dare not count them out!) is sitting behind me in one of the boxes above. We chatted a bit and caught up via text. What are the chances? Surreal.

And then, the end of the game arrives (WE WON!!) and the usher motions for us to wait. There is one more surprise left on this surreal day…..the usher has collected a practice puck for my dear BFF. If she was giddy before, she was now over the moon. (Seriously, she showed it to everyone on our walk back to the parked car!)

It was an awesome evening, celebrating a beautiful soul’s new chapter in her life. Now, not only does she have the memories (and pictures) of the fourth row seats, she has a puck.





Yes - very surreal.

Moments with your BFF and watching her act like a five year-old in a candy store.

DELIGHTFUL for my soul.

Moments D269: Team Tim's

Yesterday’s post was a little heavy so I decided to lighten up today’s with a “smile-moment”.

On my way home this morning I stopped at a Tim Horton’s for a coffee. It was busy, even though it was just past noon.

As I waited for my coffee, a couple of families came into the restaurant. There were 4 little guys all dressed up in their hockey gear. I couldn’t tell if they were coming or going to the hockey arena, but it didn’t much matter. Just the fact that they were in Tim’s all dressed up that way made me smile.

Why? Well, their red shirts had a big ‘ol TIM HORTONS plaster across the front of them. Yup. They were a Tim Horton’s sponsored hockey team.

Moments a commercial could be made in.

Moments of real life happening around you.