It’s a Hockey Love Thing Washington Capitals Fans

11/30/11

As I suspected, Bruce “Gabby” Boudreau, was removed from his post as the Washington Capital’s bench boss this week. Former Caps great, Dale Hunter, now gets his shot at steering the ship toward the ultimate victory hockey lovers of every sort refer to as “The Cup.” But this is now “old” news, so today, as I sit on hold with the Maryland Unemployment office, just to have the call disconnected yet again I’m sure, I will address how a commited, loyal fan of the Washington Capitals transforms into a full-on, dedicated fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

First, for those Capitals fans who can’t fathom such treachery, I kindly ask you to take a bit of time and check out some of the rest of my blogs. If you begin at the “Get to Know Mia” page, you will discover that I have even challeged the Grim Reaper in order to see the Washington Capitals win a Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay fans can simply take from that the knowledge that I have already seen the Tampa Bay Lightning win a Stanley Cup and it was pretty spectacular. I’m sure it will be equally so when it happens again.

Capitals fans should also know that not once in my life have I ever thought that the Washington Capitals will not win a Stanley Cup, not even right now as I type. Have you watched any of my video blogs? Have any of you seen any tweets this season that is truly disrespectful of you as a Caps fan or to Alexander Ovechkin or even Bruce Boudreau for that matter? Did I not go hard in belief and positive thinking last season in support of your Washington Capitals, even to the point of obtaining an official jersey that had the words “BELIEVE” sewn into it. Did I not offer my VIP Row B seat, not once, but twice, for an even trade for a 400-level seat in order to share an up-close view of Caps hockey with one of you? Did I not clearly go through all the reasons why I made a personal decision to save myself the hurt of watching more Washington Capital’s players lose the love of the game? Has anything I’ve tweeted, said or blogged, not been from anything other than pure love of the game of hockey itself? Is it not of any importance to you that I brought as many people to their very first hockey game to as many Washington Capitals hockey games as I possibly could over the course of my life to fill an entire section? Did I not spend the money to sit in ROW A and cheer on the Washington Capitals for their last home game of the 2003-2004 season, which was by all accounts, one of the worst seasons any hockey team could ever display in terms of on-ice apathy? (Not to mention, I was surrounded by Buffalo Sabres fans no less).Have I not recently stated in most recent video blog (I know, I yammered on for a bit, but my current situation only allows me certain small windows of oppurtunity to do so these days) that I will never root against the Capitals? Am I really such a bad person for putting every last emotional strength I had into giving a crap about the fact that your Washington Capital hockey players are humans who should never lose the love of the game?

It became very hostile, very quickly after the “Sea of Red” was born. I bore witness to that birth by the way. I sold a life insurance policy to make sure I had a season seat in the fourth row behind Olie Kolzig’s net in 2007-2008. The “Sea of Red” did not exist until the end of that season. Prior to the “Rocking of the Red” was the “Elevator Music of the Half Empty Verizon Center”. Those fans who’ve been around for awhile know exactly what I mean, don’t you? Time was, there were often more Penquins Jerseys in the Verizon Center (MCI Center) or US Air Areana (Caps Center) than there were Capitals jerseys. I have been a female hockey fan in a place where some people still don’t know what sport the Washington Capitals play since I was a very small child.

Have I not paid my dues? Is it really not my choice as an American to understand my own “pursuit of happiness” and sense of “hockey love” enough to understand that being a Tampa Bay Lightning fan feels more like “home” to me? Does it not make sense to you that I have simply been on the NHL bandwagon for as long as I can remember being alive? I’m not jumping off or on that bandwagon now am I? How many of you Capitals fans can’t really appreciate the fact that both Martin St. Louis and Vinnie Lacavalier have been with the Lightning, together through both the winning of a Stanley Cup and a season of placing dead last in the NHL? Is it not of some importance to have respect for those two hockey players for going through that, survived it and are still playing some pretty darn good hockey to this day? How many Tampa Bay Lightning fans don’t sometimes see Ovechkin or Semin highlights and think to yourself, “Holy S*&#, how’d he do that?” Does it not impress some of you Washington fans that Tampa Bay came back from a 3 game deficit to beat your arch rivals, the Penguins, in round 1 of the playoffs last year, then with very little time to recover from that battle, manage to sweep the Capitals in 4 games? How do you think that happened? Which team earned the right to move on? My point is essentially, the Tampa Bay Lightning as an entire organization has learned its lessons faster, smarter and better than the Washington Capitals as an enitre organization. Have a look at their respective franchise histories before you blatantly disagree please.

I may die penniless and cold before the new year arrives, so is it really such a horrible thing that I prefer to spend whatever time I am not putting toward finding a job and/or solution to my not-so-great life putting my hockey love where I feel 100% certain I will not have to watch almost an entire team lose the love of the game. Deep down, if you really strip away all the numbers, media and the “Sea of Red”, doesn’t it seem reasonable to think that the largest part of why each year, the Washington Capitals seem to fall short. I have done my part to build America’s Hockey Capital. I’m proud of it. I refuse to do it any more if it means I have to support something that systematically sucks the love of the game out of NHL players. I have rights as a human. I’m exercising my right to agree with the organizational resilience of the Tampa Bay Lightning, hockey in Florida and Boucher Crazy Eyes.

While you Rock the Red, I shall Be The Thunder. Go Bolts!

 P.S. No one puts Mike Knuble on the 4th line

11/9/11-Thoughts from a Homeless Hockey Fan on the Tampa Bay Lightning and a Message to Washington D.C.

11/9/11

I’ve finally been able to get enough time and resources together to post my first video blog of the 2011-2012 NHL season. There’s a marked difference between this season and last season with regard to my blog. I’m sure some have noticed. For those just joining in, my team is no longer the Washington Capitals. I feel somewhat robbed of my fan passion, support and dedication over the last 30+ years. There are reasons. Those reasons are explained in the following vlog and they are also detailed rather plainly several times since February 2011 in this blog.

People are dying and losing their hope in America. I’ve got but ONE thing to live for right now. I chose to put the best of my hockey fandom where it will not be taken for granted and squandered by an organization that simply doesn’t get it. Hence, the Tampa Bay Lightning now have a very passionate, loya, dedicated fan and they have earned it. I may die very soon, but I’m going to die happy. Watch the vlog and GO BOLTS! You are good enough and you will be what you need to be. I absolutely trust you. Relentless enthusiasm in working hard to address the little things is so sexy it can’t even be contained on one ice sheet!

Message to Washington D.C. From a Homeless Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Who Will Die Happy

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That’s right, Tampa Bay Lightning are sexy and they know it! 1st period=2nd period=3rd period=stepping up to build on the process – Special THANKS to Dave Mishkin ( @DaveMishkin ) and ( @BoltsRadio ) for making it possible for me to do the ”Dave Mishkin Game-call Dance” and for alerting me to the creepiness of carnies with their small hands that smell like cabbage – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com @creasesinger

6/29/11- This NHL Fan’s Off-season Gets Musical and Hopeful Thanks to Twitter, a Dog and Patricia Pratt’s Warrior Son

6/29/11

How’s it going out there? The time has come for SFTC to start getting all twelve or so of you readers accustomed to some changes. Most of you regular readers are already aware that Sara and I are slowly working to combine this hockey blog with my other blog, Mia’s Musical Musings. There are numerous reasons I feel this is the right thing to do, but for clarification if you’re at all interested, you can read the post on my other blog. I am completely aware that the best way to have both blogs on one site is to have a web site that will give me the necessary freedom to give my two loves, music and hockey, equal attention while keeping them on different pages so the hockey lovers can get mostly hockey and the music lovers can get mostly music.

My actual devious, Stewie Griffin-like, master plan to control the Universe is to get you all combining the hockey with the music and the music with the hockey like a Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup (my most favorite and yummiest analogy). Dastardly plans take time and patience, so mwahahahaha, I am gradually lulling you into it. I am also so poor that most of my clothes don’t fit and even a $20 hair cut in a mall seems like an expensive, luxurious spa day to me. Should I even have the funds to buy space, I do not have it in me to mess with the actual HTML/XML and other fun design specifics. For now, SFTC on WordPress.com will have to be the reality. This may cause Singing From the Crease to become awkward. Anyone who reads this and may have ideas or suggestions to make it less awkward are very welcome to contact me at singingfromthecrease@gmail.com. I will be thrilled to get some input.

Archives from previous incarnations of my former musical-goalie-hockey love from 2001-2005 are soon to be posted as well. Sara did a great job of editing all of my “Mia” errors, but I have to re-read them all to be sure the context remained the same and I’m trying very hard to remove the blatant foul language I’ve typed. I do care that kids can get access to the internet and believe that typing “The Washington Capitals still have not won a “F’ing” Stanley Cup” doesn’t take away from my self-expression. If you spot the “potty-type”, please don’t hesitate to point it out to me.

Speaking of the Washington Capitals, I am also slowly getting my fellow Red Rockin’ fans of the Caps Nation used to the fact that next NHL season, I may sometimes also be wearing BLUE. By “blue” I mean my new-style Tampa Bay Lightning Martin St. Louis t-shirt. I must very clearly remind all my passionate Capitals fan-friends that I LOVE the Capitals and I have been a committed, dedicated fan since I was a young kid. That’s more than 30 years of full-on fandom. I BELIEVE THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP. I am not jumping off the CAPS “bandwagon” DC hockey fans. I am not jumping on the Bolts “bandwagon” Lightning fans. I have been on the NHL BANDWAGON FOR AS LONG AS I REMEMBER BEING ALIVE. I love hockey. It’s just that simple.

I truly hope that the Bolts Nation will accept my pixels about the Lightning as a positive. I have found a page on HockeyBay.com that has a list of all the Tampa Bay blogs and sites, so in time, I will have them all linked here. I also truly hope that my CAPS blog friends will continue to keep me linked on their great blogs as well. I will root for both teams. When they play each other, I WILL BE WEARING BLUE. Now Washington hockey-lovers, don’t hate me for that. I will still be watching  , the defensive Bromance known as “Karlzner” and all the other great players wearing red. Tampa Bay Lightning fans, please be understanding of me if I wear my Capitals Jersey with the #37 on it (You hockey-lovers in and around Tampa Bay are also familiar with Olie Kolzig who wore #37) and the word “BELIEVE” stitched on it if it comes to pass that the Bolts face-off against the CAPS in a playoff series. I love hockey so much that I want as many little kids to have the resources to get on ice and play. That requires a strong hockey culture and from that, ice rinks and equipment and so on. The Tampa Bay Lightning have a better foundation in that regard because Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2004. Your geographic region has a bit of a leg-up in my mind. I know, it’s very, very hard to see and I’ll take your best shot if you think I’m a complete delusional nut-case. The BOLTS and the CAPS can never compete against each other in a Stanley Cup Final series, so ONE of these TWO GREAT will have this hockey-loving, passionate, fan riding the support train all the way to the CUP when either gets to the finals.

Seriously, for those who read this who just plain love hockey, it’s hard not to appreciate these two Southeast Division teams. Despite what many Capital’s fans feel was a bad year for Alexander Ovechkin, he’s still Ovie and he’s a great player. Who on Earth who is still breathing CAN’T appreciate Martin St. Louis? The CAPS Nation is going strong and I’m proud as can be to see that “LOUDER THAN MSG” sea of red after years of the opposite. I’m also proud of Tampa Bay for being one of two teams in the Southeast which has won the Stanley Cup in its relatively short existence and in doing so is a part of why people call our division the “SouthBeast” nowadays (I know “Caniacs”, your hockey-love and Stanley Cup is also partly responsible too). Our division was often referred to as the “weakest” division in the NHL. Tampa Bay has survived and can thrive in a place that many doubters and purists feel is NOT worthy or fit for hockey. I’d say the Tampa Bay Lightning and I disagree with that sentiment with vengeance, wouldn’t you? HOCKEY IS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE AND IF YOU LOVE THE SPORT, YOU SHOULD WANT TO SHARE IT AND GROW IT SO THAT EVERY KID, EVERYWHERE HAS THE CHANCE TO BE EXPOSED TO IT AND LOVE IT! I’ve got a bunch of posts waiting in the wings that will further address my very unfiltered thoughts on this subject, but they will be posted as I am able to find time.

So why did I make you read all that before I got to main point indicated in the title? It’s all apart of my evil-genius plan to get the hockey and the music together as one. Hopefully, I will last long enough to give you proof. Right now, I’ll move on to the reason I am thanking a dog. Given the circumstances of my life, (I don’t like sending you to the “Get to Know Mia” page to catch-up if you aren’t already familiar, but it’s been a long, complicated, full and interesting 39 years) I can only do so much and be as “social” and “interactive” as my personal “Miaverse” will allow. Hence, I did not get a Twitter account until a few months ago. I love to tweet and am glad I have the ability to do so right now. It seems, my tweets and/or my blog may have drawn attention to my “Miaverse” as described in one or both of my blogs.

I have been contacted by several nice people who have been kind enough to e-mail nice thoughts and encouraging words. I have also been contacted by someone from @MandisHeroes and from that contact, something I believe to be truly fun and wonderful could be on the verge of creating some “trash talk” (which to hockey fans can also be called “chirping”) to do good things in the world. Hopefully, you’ll get more specifics sometime very soon. If you are not familiar with the story of Mandi Schwartz and her great, hockey-loving spirit, you can find out all about it here at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy. I also received another e-mail recently. It was a bit odd, but I entertained the request for my mailing address. First, however, I googled the e-mail address. Interestingly, I found that the e-mail address was associated with at least one Twitter account. The account was @SweeneysTweeter and it is the Twitter account of a very fluffy, white dog who needs glasses named Sweeney Groban. I wonder if Sweeney is far or near-sighted? Hmmm. Anyway,  before I read anything else, the last name stuck-out to me and I immediately thought of the man who sings with pipes of beauty, Josh Groban. I read a bit more, but had very little energy that day, so couldn’t spend a lot of time investigating. I was unsure why a dog (and logic dictates a human is also involved) would want to send me a card, because this dog somehow discovered that I’ve had a tough time lately. I did supply my mailing address (and to Sara’s credit she was also contacted, but did not give out my personal address, so I give her a “Head-butt of Goalie Mask” for doing the right thing for me).

Here’s why I didn’t really wonder how a dog or anything related to Josh Groban, such as a dog who shares the same last name, e-mailed me to get my mailing address. In the last month or so, I’ve found and read my earlier blogs’ archives so they can be put here, under one “roof”, so to speak. I had just, and by “just” I mean about 30 minutes before I read the e-mail from Sweeney, read a blog post from 2001 where I raved liked a maniac about the singing of Josh Groban. That archive year is not yet available here, but it will be this summer. In my world, “coincidences” like this are not exactly uncommon, so I just, well, went with the flow and supplied my mailing address to Sweeney without obsessing about why a dog knows of me or would like to send me a card to cheer me up. Truthfully, I was just happy that when I googled the e-mail address, I was then alerted to the fact that Josh Groban had a Twitter account and I then became a “follower”. That made me happy.

Due to the nature of my life as of the last few years, I was two Josh Groban albums behind (there is just sooooo much music in the Universe and I may have trouble keeping up with it, but I wouldn’t have it any other way), so I was thinking maybe the Universe was reminding me I need to catch-up on some music. Truthfully, the reminder that stemmed from an e-mail sent by a dog was all the boost I really needed, because if you have heard Josh sing and seen a live show, you know exactly why I would be happy the Universe let me know I can follow him on Twitter and had two albums to enjoy (I’m only one behind now and so far, my favorite from Illuminations is “Hidden Away”). I had thought after I replied to Sweeney that the fact I had reviewed a blog post from 2001 containing nothing but me pimping the pipes of Josh Groban like a Sugar-daddy running 12 city blocks and the “out of the blue” e-mail from a dog named Sweeney Groban was not really “coincidence”, but a Universal vibe telling me I shouldn’t neglect the musical part of the “Miaverse.”

On Monday, I got a USPS envelope from @SweeneysTweeter in the mail and inside that envelope was a blue envelope with my name written on it. Inside that envelope was a card letting me know I’m awesome. Inside that card was a folded sheet of paper that revealed to me upon unfolding it that Sweeney’s birthday is on July 2nd. To celebrate, Sweeney has decided to do six acts of kindness. It seems I somehow got on the list of six. There was some cash and a CVS gift card inside the card signed by Sweeney as well. I really don’t know how I made it on Sweeney’s list, but I’m obviously quite humbled by this random help and outreach by a dog (and the human who helped Sweeney seal the envelope ).

As I stated in my sincere “thanks for being such a cool dog and letting me share your birthday happiness with you Sweeney” e-mail, I believe and practice the “Pay it forward” mentality, so when I get the guitar properly tuned that was given to me in not-so-great shape and have sporadically worked to fix so I can finally get a playable guitar back in my life, I will give that guitar to a blind child who is friends with Taylor who I have been teaching to ice skate. Taylor is also blind, but he can skate and he brings me a lot of happiness. Even though as some of my “Twitter-buddies” now know, he can be as typical as any sighted kid by pouting and being obstinate about how “uncool” he feels having to wear a lid (or helmet). I don’t care if one can see or not, any person who goes on ice and is still learning, must wear a lid as far as I’m concerned. I’ve hit my head on the ice without protection and that, my friends, is “uncool”. One of his (Taylor’s) friends from school has been taking guitar lessons before school from a musical-type who has some free time, but Taylor’s friend has had to borrow her practice guitar. There is only one extra guitar and there are two students who get lessons, one before and one after school. That guitar is a pile of poo and she (the young lady who ‘s about to get her own guitar – I will not use her name because I have not asked permission) practices with a full-size guitar, but can only practice when she is at school. The other student can only use that guitar at school as well. They are forced to share that way. Now, she (Taylor’s friend) will have her own to practice and play whenever she wants. It won’t sound like screeching cats and will keep tune far better. The other student is now able to use the practice guitar all the time and will be allowed to take it home to practice. Two kids, one guitar = BOOO. Two kids, two guitars = balance and kids playing guitar – now that’s AWESOME!

I dug a “First Act” beginner, half-size guitar, out of a pile of stuff at a Goodwill store a few weeks ago and got it for five bucks. When my camera battery charges, I’ll be able to share a photo of this little treasure. This will now become my guitar for now. I’m okay with that, because I have had years to play some nice guitars, unlike the girl who will get the restored Seagull acoustic I give her. I’ve even found an old hard-case for it on Craigslist that was sold to me for three bucks, so the Seagull will be properly protected. My “new” guitar will cause all of you to be envious beyond all belief. When you see it, you will all want to find out how you too can get you some rockin’ plastic silver wings as your pick guard too! You’ll see!

I still have to explore Sweeney’s World a bit more and I am not at all sure what Sweeney’s up to, but I’ll find out. Until then, I did need a card that reminds me I’m awesome, because it’s just nice to be reminded of that every once in a while. I also need cash to keep me fed and can fill my next 90-day prescription that’s a bit overdue for a medication I cannot function without. I can get staple things every person needs from CVS, so I did need all of those things and I am in awe of the fact that I was a recipient of an act of kindness. I like to think of myself as “Hockey Tough”, but even I need help sometimes (in more recent years, it seems I need a lot of help, but you did not read that here, because I am “Hockey Tough” after all – I’m also very silly sometimes ).

Now I can get to Patricia Pratt and her son Danny Pratt who until very recently was under the Twitter account @DannyPratt23. His account has been suspended, because he has been a true champion in every sense of the word by tweeting requests to as many people as he can to get help and raise funds to help his mom Patricia who is a Cancer Fighter. They need as much help and support as they can get, so please click here to learn about the Warrior Danny and his mom the Battler. It IS NOT JUST THE CANCER AND ASSOCIATED MEDICAL BILLS THAT MAKE THE FIGHT SO HARD. There are everyday expenses and needs for this family. I “met” Danny on Twitter, where his NEW account is @DanPratt23 and I read about his mom on the fundraising page he created on GiveForward.com, which is an awesome site to help those who need support to raise funds for things like the Pratt Family Cancer Battle. It struck me that I should retweet Danny’s site and plea for help raising funds for many reasons. The main reason I feel it my duty as a human to help Danny get the word out and give him an encouraging “tweet” as much as I am able, is because I would hope that if my twin boys were still alive, they would be the kind of young men who do what Danny Pratt is doing to help his mother. He’s a good son and I feel for him, so I want to help him. I want him to know that people care. I understand that he is up against some misery, worry, anguish and all sorts of things many people could never even imagine. I have felt alone for a long time and that is one of the hardest things to combat when the life and family you know and love is facing a horrendous crisis. In my case, that crisis continued for years after there was no more family, and life has often been a second by second hell. He deserves my attention and I need not in anyway be thanked for it, nor do I think if I can help him in any small way at all I should be considered as doing anything out of the ordinary. IT SHOULD BE ORDINARY TO HELP YOUR FELLOW HUMAN. Thanks to Twitter, a dog, and a human who must logically be associated with the dog, I not only got a reminder that I need to catch-up on some music, but that it seems I am not as alone as I have been feeling for a very long time.

Anyone who has read this far, please take just a moment to read about the Patricia Pratt and if you can spare any amount of money please help the Pratt Family fight, because they are humans just like you and me. Danny is a SUPER HERO and even a Super Hero needs help every once in a while. Please also take just a brief moment to save the link and if you have a Twitter account, blog, e-mail, or voice (Patricia has lost her natural voice), sharing this link can be your random act of kindness for the day. I do believe that anything is possible and I’m one grateful hockey-loving, musical human no matter how long I may live or how utterly craptastic any particular day, week, month or year may be. It makes no difference if I personally know Danny Pratt, he should never feel alone and he should always know he can get through it no matter how the minutes of life in efforts to save his mom may seem dark and hopeless at any given time.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE AND EVEN IF THAT HOPE TORTURES YOU AND SEEMS UNREACHABLE – EVENTUALLY IT WILL SHINE THROUGH - I GOT HOPE FROM A DOG, A FEMALE  HOCKEY PLAYER’S LEGACY AND TWITTER – I’M SHARING - GET ON BOARD THE HOPE TRAIN – IT’S F’ING GLORIOUS! 

If you believe that the hockey-love, the music-love, the acts of kindness and the sharing of hope in different ways described in this post are not relative to each other and should be posted under separate categories with different titles, perhaps you stopped reading long before now. I have plenty of hockey-love to support TWO NHL teams for an entire season. I know what I want to share, so I do, and it’s simple:  LOVE. EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE TO LOVE.

Also thanks to Sweeney Groban, Sara’s parents, who had tried to figure out how they could help me and show me appreciation for being supportive of Sara’s facial reconstruction surgeries and her recovery(which have all gone well and before Sara knows it, she’ll be cuter than the button she was before the damage happened), helped me get a ticket to see Guster at Pier 6 Concert Pavillion on August 7th. (I couldn’t get transportation the last time they were in Baltimore, so I sadly missed out. But now I can see them at an outdoor venue next to water (a combination that SINGS ”Miaverse” -me likey)) PLUS, the Gusters have also a included a ”ride share” feature on the tour page, so NO ONE ELSE will have to miss out because they can’t get a ride!! HALLELUJAH!  Here’s the best news of all, I also now have a ticket to see Josh Groban at the Verizon Center on July 27th. To me, these things are priceless. You’ve now been officially warned Section 403 – here I come!

Here’s to love and hope – IT ROCKS! (just like GOALIES AND UNIVERSAL COINCIDENCES) peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and Twitter @creasesinger

4/29/11-Capitals Inspired Music Playlist-Playoff Round 2 vs. Lightning-ONE RED DESTINY

4/29/11

It’s a Washington Capitals game day and the Verizon Center is gonna get crazy tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning are in town to begin the second round series against our mighty ice warriors of DC. The fans are pumped. The media is working hard. The Red Rockin’ icemen who should be slapping each other in the face right before game time and throwing darts at pictures of Guy Boucher to get ENERGIZED for this emotionally charged battle are ALL IN for another post-season challenge.

I’ve had more and more struggles, so if you can take the time to help me and others who fight cancer daily, please click here. My medical bills and car expenses alone have become more than I can handle on my own. There are many, many other hockey fans out there who also need those who love the greatest sport in the Universe to help them fight HARD! Hockey fans sure aren’t like other fans, are they? Couldn’t be more grateful to the Avalanche Guild and The Goalie Guild for thinking of me and giving some help to fellow hockey fans. No surprises that hockey-lovers and those who are of the most excellent of excellent tribes known as the NET MINDERS are so awesome. Still time to have some hockey charity fun for those in Colorado – check out more “Guild Goodness” here. Oh and check out this take on our Michal Neuvirth and his deceptive, superhero ways on NHL.com coming out of the Guild as well.

I’ve manipulated my music-loving fingers to upload the Capitals Round 2 music playlist from SFTC. Before I forget though – Special thanks to another great CAPS fans Shelly J. who I met while volunteering at the Ft. Dupont Ice Arena with Capital’s wives, girlfriends and other super Red Rockin’ DC hockey fans. Shelly has given me the opportunity to be at the Verizon Center for game 2  on Sunday. I can’t get to live games to “OUT-LOUD” with the rest of ya unless the ticket is free, so ROCK ON SHELLY for getting me to live playoff hockey! Loud-shout to Richard too – the other 3rd of the Ft. Dupont outdoor “4th Line”.

Brandon Flowers – “Right Behind You”

Adam Lambert – “Sure Fire Winners”

Creed – “Are You Ready”

David Cook – “Heroes”

Diamond Rio – “I Believe”

Franz Ferdinand – “Bite Hard” (I mean really Brooks, if your gonna bite…)

Jenna Reid – “Firefight”

Sub Focus – “Rock It”

The Black Keys – “Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be”

Trick Daddy (featuring Slip ‘n Slide Express)- “Take It To Da House”

Tim McGraw – ” I Like It, I Love It”

The Prodigy – “You’ll Be Under My Wheels (Album Version)”

Little Texas - ” Kick A Little (Album Version)”

GO CAPS! ALLER CAPS! GEHEN SIE CAPS!! Detail driven defense divides David from Goliath. The CAPS have G-oalie O-ffense D-effense and they also have a DOG in the fight. RED’S NOT AFRAID OF TAMPA BAY OR GUY BOUCHER!! – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) luvyalotsbambamforeverything

4/23/11-The Washington Capitals Move to Round 2 and I Don’t Feel So Alone Any Longer

4/23/11

It’s a fantastic day for Capitals fans across the hockeyverse! Our boys just showed the New York Rangers the door to the golf course and now the CAPS move onto the 2nd round of the NHL playoffs. Please, no one take this short and sweet post as an attempt by me to say ” I told you so” in any manner. I have NEVER lost faith in this team at any point in the season. I know I challenged things. I did that because I care and I love this year’s team. I knew our hard-working and talented hockeymen from DC could play the game we all love well enough to be serious cup contenders.

If the “defensive” play and change in the “system” that most saw take-shape over the course of the regular season was a problem for others, I was not in agreement with most of the fans, bloggers and media. I continued to blog about this exact type of play at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season. I never waivered. I have thought the team should be approaching the game the exact way in which they did today, as they took the Rangers down. I am so proud of the Washington Capitals right now, I couldn’t find words in any language to express my gratitude for their courage, work, commitment, team-spirit and concern for the “little things.”

The only reason I mention that I have been wishing and hoping that this “new” Capitals would play the way they have and I kept blogging, vlogging and talking about it like a nucance all season, is simply because it would appear that the CAPS are a much better team going into the post-season. They are playing smart, play-off ready hockey. It may not be as most of the folks out there prefer. The excitement dropped a bit. People were HIGHLY  frustrated and there was not shortage of “hating” sent out by many of the people who blog and send out multi-media messages to the public.

Again, no one be offended. I’m not pointing fingers. I am asking everyone to understand why I may not be a Washington Capitals fan next season, after 30-some years of die-hard CAPS fandom. I GOT MY ASS KICKED BY ALL THOSE WHO DOUBTED! I got e-mails from people who proclaimed that I should take myself “outback and shoot myself”. I got harrassed in a bathroom at the VC, for a ridiculous reason, and was then put in a situation where I could have hurt someone in defense of what the law would considering physical assault. I didn’t respond, because I know I’d hurt the unsuspecting female who saw only the shirt I was wearing and had no idea that I drove myself to work the day after I broke my tailbone. I am not a person with whom 120lb. folks should force to protect herself.

The Capitals did what so, so many of you swore all over the place they could not. There are still games to play. I refuse to BELIEVE anything other than the Stanley Cup will come to DC. I have BELIEVED in and been pushing, via my blog, the shift in “system” from the start and long before it actually happened. I have taken so much BS from angry, hate-filled, aggressive, bully-fans this season, that I actually had to be in another team’s barn (New Jersey Devils) to actually have a stress-free, good time at a Capitals game.

I know we all love our Washington Capitals. They deserve all you crazy Red-Rockin’, louder-than-MSG fans. I will never begrudge the team any of that and I want a filled, loud Verizon Center for our boys. I am proud and happy, but I took too many hits as a fan. I’m only one fan and I am certain the Capitals don’t need me as a fan any longer. They have all of you now. Please try just a tiny bit more in future to have a little more faith and make a small effort to keep in mind that when you unleash your anger – there is collateral damage.

GO CAPS! THERE IS NO LOVE LIKE HOCKEY LOVE! THERE IS STILL MORE HOCKEY TO PLAY, ONE GAME AT A TIME! – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) luvyalotsformakingdoubtersintobelievers

4/19/11-Puck Update Is Blogging in an “Intellectually Lazy Manner” about the Washington Capitals

4/19/11

It’s a gloomy day in the Baltimore/D.C. Metropolitan area and, as is the norm, the sports media, bloggers and other assorted pundits from across North America are self-expressing on all things NHL Playoffs. It’ll be an “intellectual” challenge for me to avoid any “jinx” while I take my turn at self-expression, but I BELIEVE I can make a good go at it anyway.

Like some of the Washington Capital’s faithful, I also get very interested in other NHL teams and their progress as well. Before I get “down and dirty” with my opinions about a particular blogger’s sentiments regarding the men of ice from D.C., I will state that I was pulling for the New Jersey Devils to get a spot in the playoffs. Something they usually do and frankly, of all the teams in the East, I have simply assumed they would be in the playoffs. Every new  NHL season, I would ask myself, “I wonder who the Devils will play in the playoffs?” I’m not trying to rub the Devs and their fans in it, so don’t anybody go there. I thought New Jersey’s recovery from a bad start to this regular season was inspiring, if not plain amazing. I feel for the NJ Devils and their fans. The only thing I can offer from a Rocker of THIS RED, is that the Capitals really want to take the Rangers out of the playoffs. Most Devils fans can at least get behind that anyway.

New Jersey had a “blip on the radar”, so to speak, and 2012 will be better for sure. There’s not doubt in my mind about that. For the rest of this season though, it’ll be Washington’s RED that’ll have to take the NY Rangers out of Cup contention. On that note, let me begin my typed thoughts on “New School NHL.” This blogger from NY posted thoughts about Washington’s “non-offense” and how their “Devils inspired defense” can’t work.

Okay Puck Update, while I am impressed with pulling “obviate” out of the depths of your thesaurus, I’ve been left little choice to point out some critical issues with your thoughts. First, I am very curious how much time you’ve spent talking to Bruce Boudreau, Alexander Ovechkin or any Assistant Coaches in Washington? I’m also curious how much time you’ve spent watching other NHL teams this regular season? How many playoff games have you seen and which teams have you watched?

Seems to me that you failed to notice games where both Alexander Semin and Alexander Ovechkin had success with scoring the “fancy” goals after the team had been working on their “transition” in the regular season. It also appears that your logic may be sound in thinking that the Capital’s “defensive” system may only work for the New York Rangers, but it seems “intellectually lazy” of you to assume you know how the Capitals will play and perform against the next team they will face in round 2. If you’re able to see the future, perhaps your efforts in blogging are being wasted right now. Go win the lottery or something.

I prefer not to point out any real specifics about the CAPS, since there’s no need to help any party “know” my team better. It is the playoffs after all and the less information given about how the hockeymen of the Nation’s Capitals can and will play, the better, as far as I’m concerned. I will take the time to point out to you however, Puck Update, that you making short-sided, matter-of-fact written statements about nuances that you apparently forgot to notice of other NHL teams this season about the Washington Capitals, is tantamount to me driving to New Jersey and informing Lou Lamoriello that he doesn’t know how to run a hockey club.

Thanks, but we’re good down here in D.C., so if you don’t mind, we’ll “do us” and you can “do you.” I would have put this in your comment section, but alas, it does not appear your intellect dictated to you that comments should be allowed and a means to do so should be provided. Tell ya what though, we’ll take your Wonderlic score and compare it to my Wonderlic score. Maybe I’ve got your “intellectually lazy” thoughts all wrong. Bring it.

GEHEN SIE CAPS! ALLER CAPS! GO CAPS! STAY THE COURSE! – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) luvyalotsformakingthemlaugh

4/12/11-Capitals-Rangers Playoff Series Inspired SFTC Music Playlist – No Doubt

4/12/11

Let us all start anew and get our NHL PLAYOFF HOCKEY ON!!! The Washington Capitals have BELIEVERS. It was very trying regular season for the men of hockey who play the greatest game in the universe for D.C. Perhaps the fun and excitement was reduced for everyone in the PROCESS. It was what it was. We got through it and now is the time.

Now is the time for our boys to put the skates on ice, having the little things in mind, so they can proceed with getting another piece of the beautiful picture that is the Stanley Cup by showing the New York Rangers the playoff exit door. The RED can out-work the blue.

Here is the latest musical contribution from SFTC to help the entire Washington Capital’s Nation BELIEVE.

Keith Urban – “Once in a Lifetime”

Paramore – “Let the Flames Begin”

Pillar – “Frontline”

The Killers – “Human”

Tim McGraw – “Real Good Man”

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – “Don’t Hate”

Peter Gabriel – “Growing Up (Tom Lord-Alge Remix)”

Kenney Chesney – “Live a Little”

Pillar – “For the Love of the Game”

Keith Urban – “Winning”

GO CAPS! GEHEN SIE CAPS! ALLER CAPS! GET ‘ER DONE ONE AT A TIME! D-FIRST GETS YA TO THE BIG O! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR GOALIE CAN DO IT FOR ALL 60! – peace – mia singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) luvyaforsellingand/orbuyingin

4/11/11-Washington Capitals Matt Hendricks and Mike Knuble Get What They Deserve

4/11/11

It may be another of a continuing string of jobless Monday’s for me, but the hockey gods have sent me a couple of rays of happy sunshine in the form of news from the Washington Capitals Nation. Matt Hendricks #26 has been given the Bill Masterton nomination by his team. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.  From my perspective, this is exactly the right choice and I am all on board with this news. He has earned this nomination for all the reasons and a few more, mentioned in this news release from the Capitals. WAY TO ROCK THE SPUNKY DETERMINATION HENDY!! ONE NON-SMASHED THUMBS-UP AND ANOTHER SMASHED THUMBS-UP FROM ME TO YOU “FIRE CONTROLLER!”

Hendricks isn’t the only icemen of DC who’s getting what he deserves either. The happy news has come in pairs for all the believers out there. Mike Knuble #22 has been signed to a one year contract extension with the NHL’s Eastern Conference Champions 2011 today as well. Again, this is another ray of sunny, goodness in my book. As a fan, I not only get behind this all the way, but I have been “vibing” in front of it for a while now. It caught-up and the deal is done. This is fantastic news for Knubes I’m sure, but even better news for the Capitals. WELL DONE ON ALL ACCOUNTS AND THANKS FOR SHOWING THERE’S CONFIDENCE WHERE CONFIDENCE SHOULD BE (at least from my “hockeyverse” anyway).

I was having a tough time finding anything resembling “positive” this morning, so reading this good news has helped get me going a little today. Thanks for that and MAJOR KUDOS TO #26 AND #22!

Go Caps! Gehen sie Caps! Aller Caps! THE TIME IS NOW!! ROCK THE RED! BELIEVE! TRUST! PERSEVERE! – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) – luvyalotsyamagnificantbastardsya

4/6/11-HAPPY 41ST BIRTHDAY OLAF “OLIE THE GOALIE” KOLZIG-GODZILLA IS FOREVER!

4/6/11

Regardless of anything happening in my world today, there wouldn’t have been a chance in H – E  – Double Hockey Sticks that I wouldn’t post warm 41st birthday wishes to the net minder whose #37 is on my “BELIEVE” Washington Captials jersey (as shown on the front page of this blog). Olie Kolzig will always totally rock in my book!

Today is also my last outing to the Verizon Center in downtown DC to see the Washington Capitals play live. The boys from the Nation’s Capitals came away from Toronto last night with a win in the shootout thanks to Mr. Dependable #22 Mike Knuble and also clinched the Southeast Division Title for the 4th straight year in a row. This fan is proud of the players and the Washington Capitals for their success. IMPRESSIVE WORK!!

The home favorites will be playing the Florida Panthers this evening at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) and will then head to Panther’s Land to play them again on their ice this Saturday at the same time to finish the regular season. I’m happy to be getting to the last home game of the Washington Capitals for the 27th year in a row. This trek has been a very important, long-standing tradition for me and this year has not proved to be the exception. My housemate and my long-time friend, Brian, are also thrilled to be attending the game as well.

This year’s Washington Capitals has been through adversity and have seen highs and lows. I truly believe that all of things that happened from the start of this season were never bad, simply the “hockeyverse” doing its best work yet. These guys have been tested. They have lost and won in ways that appear to have helped them become a more unified, resolved, hard-working, determined group of playoff ready mother f’ers (in Bruce Boudreau speak). They should be proud and they should be confident.

The addition of Jason Arnott at the trade deadline was an indication that General Manager George McPhee had an understanding of many very important factors relating to his Washington Capitals. Plus, adding Marco Sturm, Scott Hannan and Dennis Wideman to the team did wonders to reinforce the team, the collective veteran experience in the locker room, on the ice and off the ice and brought much-needed balance to this year’s Washington Capitals.

As for my favorite athlete, former NHL keeper of the crease, I hope he is doing well and happy to have been a Washington Capitals for all those many years. Many of the fans out here in the DC metropolitan area miss “Zilla” and know for sure that one day, the Kolzig #37 banner will be hung in the rafters in honor of his mental toughness, skills, commitment, leadership, community and charity work and most importantly for that commercial where he’s at a fine restaurant and pour the bottle of wine (at least I think it was wine) all over him. Olie Kolzig was not only a south-paw, but he was a true competitor who back-stopped the Washington Capitals through some very difficult times. HERE’S TO OLIE ”THE GOALIE” KOLZIG - ALL THREE OF THE SFTC CREW WHO ARE ONE WITH THE WAYS OF CLAN GOALIE AS WELL GIVE YOU THE “HEAD-BUTT OF THE GOALIE MASK” LIFETIME AWESOMENESS HONOR!

Speaking of “Head-butt of the Goalie Mask”, the honor for the Buffalo Sabres game goes to #44 Jason Arnott for hitting two career milestones as a Washington Capitals, being experienced in the ways of the “NJ Devils”, for scoring when scoring needed to happen, for talking a lot with the “Sashas #8 and #28), for going into the locker room from the start and say the “things that some people may not have wanted to hear” and for generally being a great player who has size and skill that adds to the team that WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP. I, for one, have empathy for the New Jersey Devils this season, but have zero reservations stating that they’ll just have to deal. Jason Arnott is ours now NJ and the hockey gods have spoken. Who are you to question the hockey gods (hey, the CAPS got thrown a gigantic, meaty bone and we needed it)

GEHEN SIE CAPS! ALLER CAPS! GO CAPS!! Let’s send the love to the “hockeyverse” to get all of our DC boys healthy, keep them that way, focused, confident and in the playoff state of mind. KEEP ROCKIN’ THE PRIDE GENTLEMEN!! Thanks to each and every one of you for loving the game. You’ll be rewarded with 35 pounds for your reliable, hard-working, detail-minded, positive, confident, never quit, sacrificing ways. ROCK IT ‘TILL YA LIFT IT BOYS!!! – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) luvyalotsandlotsfortakingtheshots

4/4/11-I Did Not Know Mandi Schwartz but…I Needed to Post This Today

4/4/11 – There are typos in this post. I had to get it posted and simply can’t keep working on it. I am starting to have more “mentally” bad days than good, so here are my thoughts-take them as you like. Posts may become sparce for a while. LOVE YOUR HOCKEY! Can’t thank GMGM and #44 for working with the hockey gods to make me BELIEVE this year! Let’s ROCK the playoff hockey.

It’s early evening and another jobless Monday has dropped on me yet again. Although, I am somewhat happy that I have the time in the mornings to read a lot of the National Hockey League articles, watch NHL videos, recaps, highlights and other goodies and of course, look at the standings. It’s that time of year for all those in the throws of an NHL season to really start doing all of those things. Personally, I am very lucky in this regard. I can “hockey-think” all day if allowed. As all things are in this universe, however, the good accompanies bad. I will not be able to live for too much longer without having a full-time job with health benefits. It really is a matter of life and death in some ways. So, while I am happy to have the time to explore the internet for almost any subject that relates to NHL hockey, I am unhappy at the same time, because the only way I can possibly survive is to be employed.

Okay, don’t worry. I’m not out to depress anyone. I’m usually much more positive than I am negative and today is no exception. The Washington Capitals are playing a game that has changed this season. That change may make some other fans and some media outlets go bonkers, but it has made me a particularly happy fan, for the most part. I have been a bit selfish from a CAPS fan perspective. I admit it. This year, I simply want to feel good about the playoff chances of the DC boys. I haven been uneasy and not confident about the playoff chances in recent years. I always try to keep the mindset, as a fan, that the guys will do well and make progress through the post-season. They have made the post-season since 2008, so that bodes well in my mind, considering the history of the organization.

The one thing that has kept me a little “nervous” was the type of hockey they were playing over the last few years. It always seemed to me that playoff hockey wasn’t translating on-ice through the regular season in many, many ways. It did come to pass that playoff hockey also wasn’t translating to the extent it should in the playoffs as well. I can agree that all of this is in hindsight, but I truly did find myself feeling a lot of apprehension at the start of the last few Capital’s playoff “runs”. I hoped they would prove me wrong, but that did not happen. This year is a different year for me as a fan and I am about the happiest I have been as a life-long fan of the CAPS, because this year, I have seen the type of hockey that gets teams success in the post-season. Hence the reason my Washington Capitals jersey has the word “BELIEVE” stiched on the back of it.

You may be thinking right now why my post is titled as it is. Here’s your answer. I was sifting through “tweets” yesterday and ran across many “tweets” delivering the news that a young woman named Mandi Schwartz had gone to hockey heaven after fighting the battle with Leukemia for a few years. Here’s a Puck Daddy article about her with several very good links that should also be read. Here’s some blunt honesty from me and I can’t worry about how anything I type here will be perceived. I have to do this.

I wasn’t familiar with Mandi’s story at all. I don’t know her family or anyone who knew her. The one thing I do know is why someone would decide to stop medical treatment. I also know that today, I am peeved at the hockey gods. Believe what you must, but when it comes to ice hockey, and especially females who do get the opportunity and support to actually play the game, the hockey gods should have taken me and left Mandi to play. They should have left her to show all the little girls who could see her play that females can and do play hockey. They should have spared her family the sorrow. I made this clear to the hockey gods-everyday. I told them that if there is a female hockey player out there somewhere who can live the example by being heavily involved with the sport, get some attention for it and who may need some sort of help from the hockey gods – I’d happily trade if that’s what keeps a needed balance. I don’t know how the universe works, but I’m still maintaining that position.

I am being selfish. I want nothing more out of my life but to know that females will play ice hockey and that they will have a professional hockey league in place to build a strong love of the game, not just in other females, but in “hockey voids” like the one in which I grew-up. I am not playing the game and I do not have a family and barely any sort of support system consisting of people who also love ice hockey. The hockey gods screwed-up and I am unhappy today. People like Mandi are the one’s who make the biggest differences. Not people like me.

I am uniquely qualified to address the decision some people make, according to what I’ve read about Mandi is one of them, to not obtain medical treatment for cancer. In my case, I simply don’t have money. I’ve already been completely wiped-out financially. I have already declared bankruptcy. I have already been through the horrific, life-sucking, black hole of misery that becomes one’s life when bill collectors and those who want money from you aren’t getting that money from you. I couldn’t work regularly. I was weak and tired all the time. I got my butt kicked from one end to the other, over and over again and if I didn’t have it in me to find or earn money to remove the stress that accompanies medical bills – those medical bills went unpaid and the debt crushed me with extreme weight.

Once I STOPPED taking all those pills prescribed to me AND I STOPPED dragging myself around to medical appointments, which began to be all I did, if I could get a vehicle, pay for gas and stay upright for the trips, I started to get better. I started to be less depressed. The little peaks of sunlight started to shine through every-so-often. Slowly, I was able to gain more and control over the things that were putting me down faster and faster. The most important decision I could have ever made in my life was to simply be in control of how I lived it and if that meant chosing to forego chemicals, tests, and sitting in waiting rooms holding my breath every time to get news that would either make me happy or sad, then that is what it meant.

I can’t speak for anyone else with regards to their personal reasons for chosing to stop treatments for whatever may be or was the battle that is cancer, but I can say that if Mandi in particular got the chance to take that control before she moved on to playing ice hockey in the heavens, she’s probably having a nice smile right now, playing “heaven hockey”. If those not ever faced with such situations are unable to understand what I mean, I’ll mention that sometimes people know how they want to fight. Fighting isn’t always about surviving for long periods of time. Sometimes it’s about fighting to live whatever life you have the way you want to live it. Wrong or right, that decision does belong to the person whose life it is.

I’m hesitant to post this. I do type posts that I do not ever make public sometimes. It’s helpful and cathartic to get thoughts out this way, but I do sometimes leave posts “unpublished”. This time, I will publish a post that maybe I should keep to myself. The one thing I do not want to do is offend anyone or make anyone angry. I don’t get very many readers, but given the nature of the internet, there still is a tiny, remote possibility that someone from the Schwartz family or someone who personally knew and love Mandi could read this one day. I am not attempting to discount the grief or sadness that is the loss of a beloved person in anyone’s life. Loss is miserable and human emotion is crucial and hard felt by those left behind. I simply ran across a story about a hockey-loving female who battled and eventually did win one very important fight. The fight to play ice hockey and that fight counts more than many know. Little girls will be rewarded in the future for the love of a great sport that Mandi played. To me in particular, she’s pretty awesome and I’d never even heard of her while she was still alive.

Every female who plays ice hockey is making a difference, not just for the little girls out there, but for the entire ice hockey world by creating more and more interest in the greatest sport in the universe. I couldn’t be more grateful. I am also reminded that to my knowledge, I do not have Leukemia. I haven’t had any tests done to say that for sure. I could be riddled with tumors for all I know right now. I can’t say that the Lymphoma is my biggest problem. I can say that I made the decision to take very few pills each day. I made the decision to take as much time as I need to decide which doctor I will see and when. I am, for the most part, alone and can only do what I can do in each given day. If I have a productive day and know my “unemploment” budget can handle a trip to see a doctor or get a blood test, I do it. I will be getting a blood test this week to see how everything looks. My white blood cells work too hard and there are still a few high levels and low levels. If I need a treatment beyond the medication I already take each day, I will most likely refuse it.

The mental stress of dealing with health issues will not be the reason I go to hockey heaven. I have control of that desicion. I will go to the last home game of the Washington Capitals this Wednesday against the Florida Panthers with my housemate and my friend Brian. I look for work in some way everyday. I try to get stronger and believe that I’m not on the way into the grave. I’m a stubborn pain about it actually. I certainly will cling to even the tiniest little positive thing I can find so that I can get through everyday until the Capitals win the Stanley Cup. I may not be as invested as a fan as I have been next NHL season, but the Capitals will win the Cup. I DO BELIEVE!

The universe does like to put some people through trials that appear completely and totally unfair. There are days when I am hit hard with that reality and times when I feel I should just lay in bed and not bother with anything until some outside force intervenes. That is happening to me more and more often. I am having more and more low days. I know that’s not a good sign, but I also still have ice hockey and music. Those two things still matter to me and for now, they are keeping me fighting to make progress.

I suppose what I’m getting at with all of this is that I hope the hockeyverse helps all those who knew and loved Mandi Schwartz through the loss. I also hope that next time, the hockey gods remember that I will happily go if some other female who actually is playing ice hockey and who has a family and friends who will be deeply hurt by her loss happens to need a hand from the hockey gods. It may not be fair, but even I know that I am expendable. I am not playing ice hockey. I am no longer a mother. I have no family. There are far more important females who can make a very big difference that will better and more quickly lead to a professional female hockey league and more little kids on ice.

GO CAPS! My friend Brian is so excited to see a live game at the Verizon Center on Wednesday night, his wife has informed me that he made her wash the Ovechkin shirt I gave him for his birthday two weeks ago when I told him I had an extra ticket. That shirt has been out and ready to where on top of the dresser ever since. He even got all chatty with excitement just going over the ride-sharing details. There’s another first-time Rocker of the Red heading to DC! Let’s get the playoff hockey a ‘rollin. (NO,NO T-O) – peace – mia – singingfromthecrease@gmail.com and twitter (@creasesinger) luvyalotsandlots