Soul patch…
See it like I’m right there—
Feel it like I’m right there because Todd’s own Noise has opened…
As he’s gotten further away from the Mayor and closer to Ben,
his own Noise is opening as wide as it used to be…
Opening with astonishment and joy and so much love,
you can hardly bear to look at it…
And those feelings are surging back along the crowd like a wave,
and the crowd is staggering under it…
— in Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
Sixty-five minutes of game time,
plus a sixteen man shootout,
for a W,
and two-points,
now that,
is some awesome value,
for ticketholders…
The other night,
over quiche and salad,
I was discussing,
plans for my playoff beard,
with Starshine,
and Little Gem…
Starshine said,
You do have a bit of a moustache,
but I don’t think you have what it takes,
to grow a beard…
I said,
Lesser miracles have happened…
She said,
If that particular miracle ever occurs,
consider yourself off the camp list…
I’ll just tell my teacher,
you’ve been benched,
for not shaving…
This made me wonder,
if she isn’t taking correspondence,
from the general manager,
in preparation…
According to my research,
the trade deadline,
resulted in some shifts,
with the potential,
for a major upset…
But what do I know…
Last night,
as I was brushing,
some side ribs,
with honey,
I told Starshine,
If the Canucks were winning all of the time,
there would be no room for improvement…
A win-loss pattern keeps everyone on their toes…
And the thing is,
if one player isn’t scoring,
it means another one can…
But the media is so quick to call,
a slump,
or a drought,
or inconsistency,
so’s to whip up some drama,
because they have nothing better to do…
I find nothing more infectious,
than the excitement,
of #13 putting it in the back of the net…
As I said in a mental note,
to Mike Gillis,
Torres should get a double-double,
for his skill,
with direct transmission,
and amplification…
Yesterday morning,
I had a dream,
I was in an operating theatre,
working silently,
inside a patient,
with some others…
The body was full of white light,
and everyone,
in attendance,
was dressed for the occasion,
in love’s lace,
and velvet,
like a Victorian valentine…
A vision of reassurance,
in the seat behind me,
whispered a promise,
It’s just a little bit longer…
And HE will be there…
I woke up knowing,
that despite my worries,
and my fears,
around the echoing question,
and possibilities,
of meeting a brother,
it will all work out,
for the fourth line…
And I will hold on hope...
Quality control…
Not only can Gillis afford to be choosy,
he must be…
The Canucks do not lead the NHL by accident…
The powerful culture of accountability and responsibility in the dressing room,
pushed and embodied by Henrik and Daniel Sedin,
is not to be trifled with…
— Iain MacIntyre, in The Vancouver Sun, February 26, 2011
I swore to myself,
that I would never quote from a vampire,
but some promises are only made,
to be broken…
Last week sometime,
I was across the street,
asking my neighbours,
if I could make a documentary,
about what a girl can do,
when she puts her mind to something…
The recipient of the question,
was all over the idea,
and gave me carte blanche,
for spontaneous interviews…
When I crossed back,
to my front garden,
another neighbour walked by,
with her new puppy…
She was telling me about her sixteen year old son,
who I remember from years back,
was a very late reader,
of two-dimensional print,
manifesting his athletic prowess,
in football…
I even got to see the photos,
on her I-Phone…
She told me all about being a hockey mom…
And now that her older boy,
has chosen a field,
over ice,
how much she misses,
her time in the rink,
with all of those other parents…
She’s on her own mission,
to advocate for the hard to house,
in the downtown eastside,
and counts the days,
until her three year old boy,
is old enough,
for Timbits hockey…
I asked her if the little guy,
who I’ve seen leaning forward,
in his carseat,
when his father,
drives past my house,
WANTS to play hockey…
She said,
WANTS???
This isn’t optional…
He will play,
and he will like it…
I skated before I could walk…
My dad and my brother both played pro hockey,
and there’s no way,
that I’m not getting back into that parent community…
Among other things,
like my Monday nights at the driving range,
I live for it…
I almost pulled out a soapbox,
for her to stand on,
but then I saw a message,
was being delivered…
So I went into my house,
and along with the smell of the arena,
and all that is sweet,
and good,
I put her post-it,
in my hockey bag,
for when the time comes…
I will begin again..
Star gate…
George was fond of playing tricks on Martha…
But that was not Martha’s idea of fun…
And when she found her house slippers nailed to the floor,
she was not amused…
Martha gave George the old silent treatment…
“Oh no!!!” said George,
“Not that!!!”
George decided to bake Martha’s favorite cake…
“This will butter her up,” he said…
And he when he was done,
he found a pretty ribbon with which to wrap the box…
— in George and Martha Back in Town by James Marshall
A few nights ago,
Starshine got up from the dinner table and said,
There was this expert on the radio this morning…
She’s written a book about how to deal with your once sweet but now surly child…
I’ll see if I can find it on Amazon,
and add it to your cart…
Because you seem to be having a tough time,
with me…
I remember sitting on the steps,
of my front porch,
just a few summers ago,
listening to one of my father’s broken records…
And in response I said,
something like,
We let the government,
and other people,
including our spouses,
determine reality for us…
Then I turned on a light,
with the following question,
when I asked,
Has it ever occurred to you,
that our realities are not the same???
He whispered back,
in nearly stunned silence,
No, I’ve never considered that…
One thing I really liked about Tuesday’s game,
with The Canucks vs. Le Canadiens,
at Rogers Arena,
is that some needs were met…
Carey Price,
and his community,
saw some necessary justice,
the Canadiens got their two points,
to hold their place,
in the Eastern Conference,
and the Canucks were pushed,
to re-group…
You gotta love that…
There’s a cold wind warning,
coming to the west coast,
this weekend,
and the thing I’m really liking,
about NHL hockey these days,
is all the stories,
about the sleepers…
Those little guys,
who grew slow,
started late,
and against all odds,
came from out of nowhere,
to remind us all,
that what really counts,
with respect to maturity,
is what you do,
with your foundation,
while in preparation,
for the call,
to the big leagues…
Do you take sugar???
Canuck'd 