First Mid Term of the new School Term

First Mid Term coming up this weekend!  It's crazy how much reading this class has and it is a one (1) unit only!  My counselor has mentioned they are trying to change it to a 3 unit course because there is so much material that has to be covered.  Good thing I know a thing or two about our Constitution already, but holy smokes, there's a lot of reading involved.

We are nearing our first real snow here in Anchorage.  Other parts of the state and even the country are enjoying winter snows and here we are, still seeing lakes with water and puddles on the sides of the road.  What's up with that???  It's time for it to get cold and freeze the lakes over, there's outdoor fun to be had and I am ready for it.  My team is looking forward to the icing over of the lakes as well.  Since we're a recreational league, there are no formal practices, but, we could sure benefit from one!  LOL!  We sure work hard though when we show up for games, but most of my teammates don't even understand the "off-sides" rule yet, and I just barely fully understood it recently (helpful when you're the goalie).  I knew the puck had to cross the blue line, but the other part of the rule I didn't fully understand until recently.

At any rate, snow it on its way and I caught a few snowflakes on my hoodie this morning walking to work, but nothing substantial.  I am also getting settled in nicely at my job.  I've been here for about five months now and still enjoying it.  Learning more each day and will be adding quickbooks to my list of programs I can maneuver through.  I've never used the program, but I am confident I won't have any big issues sorting it all out.

Really, between work, school, church, hockey, and the occasional social event, I keep a pretty chill schedule.  Plenty of down time at home to enjoy Pandora's company as I do my weekly chores, and soon, I will have a pair of headphones again (that I don't plan to put through the wash cycle) and will have the company of my tune-age again on the bus as I make my Saturday morning run to the grocery store.  Oh, note to self, pull out the waterproof gloves for when it actually starts getting colder!  Okay, that's it.  Happy Stay Sexy Thursday!

ej

Was thinking about Isaiah

This morning on the bus, I was thinking of my friend Isaiah and it made me smile.  I was thinking of how happy he always was and carefree.  Captain Happy...


He was such a good guy and I was remembering how we tried to teach him how to ballroom dance.  Between my friend Heather and myself, we got awfully close to teaching him how to East Coast Swing.  I loved that he didn't care what people thought of him and moved forward in his objective - make people smile.  At his funeral, the person conducting the meeting was talking about how there was going to be some sort of memorial made for him at the place where he had done his Eagle Project for Scouts.  He said, "Some people were meant to be remembered."  Isaiah was that kind of person.  Heavenly Father took him from this life early for a greater purpose and though I am sometimes sad when I think about his wife and baby he left behind, and how we will not see him again in this life, I am comforted by the greater purpose God has for him.  Miss ya, Buddy!

ej

Hunger Games Countdown

Whiplash!!! ... Again ...

So, the first time I skated out and attempted my first shot on goal I fell flat on my back and got a little whiplash.  That was about a month ago.  Good times right?  Of course right!  Well, last night in class I was hustling over to the net on the opposite end of the rink and was skating hard to get there and totally lost my feet from under just before the first blue line and laid myself out on my back.  Helmet went flying off and the coach came over to make sure I was okay.  Of course I was, it happens right?  He was great though!  I hate when people get all mushy and too concerned for something so small.  Yeah, I fell hard, but I wasn't injured, not even my pride or ego.  I have been skating two and a half months, so I feel like my skating is where it should be.  He quickly asked if I was okay and I replied "It happens."  He handed me my helmet and said, "Put this on and remember to bend your knees."  On that I was back up and skating.  I really like his style.  Didn't waste time coddling.

Lessons learned from class -

Don't be afraid to do what comes to you instinctively.  When goal tending, as in lots of things I do in life, I start to analyze and then over analyze.  My best goal tending has been when I played against the men and I just reacted instead of "decided" on what to do.  I had a few moments of that last night and later I thought "dang, that was pretty darned awesome."  I mean, I really surprised myself with what I saw myself do last night.  Not that it was amazing or anything, but it was just that I was pleased with how my instincts too control.

I need to set my bottom skate straps tighter against my skates.  I have known this, but I need to punch more holes in the leather so I can put the buckle though.  I know a few people that can do it, but only know one person with the right tool, but he has fallen off the face of the earth.  Next step would be to go to the Boot Country guy by my office, but that will cost money.  Blah!  It would give me more control over my pads if I could strap them to my skates properly.

Finally, the biggest lesson I continue to learn and most import habit to create...keep my darn stick on the ice!  I don't know how many times I hear that, and yet, I am always picking it up off the ice.  You would think I would be lazy and let it rest on the ice right?  Nope, I hold on to that bad boy like there's no tomorrow and biscuits keep flying between the five hole!  Ugh...a work in progress am I.  Okay, back to the work of the office!

ej