Goalie :: Christmas Tree
March 22, 2005 / Tuesday
Christmas Tree Goalie: Last Game of the Season
The last Green game of the season was tonight. I won, but the way things went, I didn't feel all that deserving of it. Liz was stopping shots left and right tonight, mostly while staying on her feet. How she managed that, I don't know. I, on the other hand, let two dumb ones in doing stupid things. Sure, the other team shot a lot (not that the *@#(*&# scoresheet reflected it!), but that doesn't warrant lame errors.
Going into the 3rd period, my team was down 0-2. I was torn. I was totally rooting for Liz finish with a shutout. On the other hand, I was in the other net, and there was a game to win. I skated over to my bench between periods and asked for 3 goals.
Paula, who flipped the backhand that ruined my almost shutout on Sunday, came through. She scored a goal with just over 10 minutes left on the clock. I asked for two more, and she followed up with an assist with just under 5 to go. Into overtime we went. "One more!" I shouted, and, holy crap, she took the puck in and delivered. Daaamn!
Final score: 3-2. Good for Paula, and phew!
One of our refs tonight had a grand ole time. She drank my water, kicked me with purposeful flair as the puck dropped in our zone, and hung out by my net amidst several mad scrambles for the puck, laughing about how she was getting in the way, and finally hiding behind the net to watch the play. What the heck?!
I had a couple goalie projects to work on tonight. One was to track the puck sideways while keeping stance. The other was to stay toward the edge of the crease while tracking -- I realized from watching (and TiVo rewinding and rewatching) a couple college games this weekend that I venture too far out when the puck is in my team's zone, and that's why it's hard for me to go from side to side.
It's amazing what a small depth correction will do! The tracking project was a success! In the process, however, I forgot other important points, like not dropping before a shot is released. If you're wondering how goal number two went in, there's your answer.
As for the shoulder, after the freak tweaking this morning and a day's worth of soreness, I didn't hurt it once all game. That makes no sense, but I'm not gonna complain about that one!
11:33 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (11)
March 20, 2005 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie:Alllmost!
Played in net for the GMP today. I had a decent game, the usual close calls, and alllmost a shutout.
Alllmost!
Final score: 2-1. They scored on me with a minute an a half left in the game (I think). Bah!
It was a beauty of a shot, though. Paula, while falling, flipped a backhand over my head.
Afterward, the Ballerina Pimp, who was reffing the game, came over and said, "You shouldn't have gone down!"
Siiigh! Next time!
I wanted a shutout, dammit!
Shoulder update: I tweaked my left shoulder only twice today, and they were both minor tweaks that didn't hurt after the play ended. I'm hoping this means I'm making progress with my PT exercises. I'll get to test it out again on Tuesday ...
08:11 PM | Christmas Tree:Injuries| Comments (0)
March 15, 2005 / Tuesday
Bye Bye Christmas Tree ... ?
Ooh! I might get to goaltend in Red next season!
Here's to not screwing up my eval.
Don't screw up don't screw up don't screw up ...
08:12 AM | Christmas Tree| Comments (6)
March 14, 2005 / Monday
Christmas Tree Goalie: So Long, S.O. Streak
There's bad news, and there's bad news, and then there's more bad news after that.
The bad news is, my 3 game shutout streak is over.
The other bad news is, I lost.
The bad news on top of that is, I lost because I let in the stupidest goal in the 3rd period.
But before I go into that, some good news. I stopped 37 shots today.
The accompanying bad news is, I let in 2.
The first one I let in wasn't too terrible. The puck was somewhere behind 3 players, it ricocheted off Andrea, and slid in before I knew it was coming. Lesson learned: with that many bodies, the puck is not going to come in high. Get low and cover more horizontal space.
The second one was just plain dumb. The puck came at me along the ice and I swiped at it. I swiped at it and missed and watched it slid between my legs. WTF?
Lesson learned there too: Don't swipe at the puck. Actually, I knew that one, and just had a total brain fart. Of course, goalies aren't afforded the luxury of brain farts. This one was the difference between a tie (or maybe even an OT win) and a loss. Dammit!
At least this game didn't put too much of a dent in my save percentage. But still, I hate losing when I'm in net. I hate it hate it hate it!
Okay, enough about that. Now for something amusing.
Andrea sent a good 6 or 7 pucks past me during warmups. On her final shot, she literally knocked me down with the puck. It hit my skate and my leg went out from under me.
I don't call her Secret Weapon for nothing!
12:03 AM | Christmas Tree| Comments (3)
March 06, 2005 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie In Disguise: My First Red Game
I had a Green practice in Fremont at 4 PM today. In the 2:30 slot was a Red game that I knew a lot of my friends would be playing in. I was looking forward to watching the game, and I scheduled my rink arrival to just before the first puck drop.
So, at 2:30, I walked toward the front door of the rink. Claire, our goalie coordinator, was standing there. She looked at me and asked if I had my stuff. Turns out one of the Red goalies was MIA. A chance to play in Red? I was a little nervous, but I jumped at the opportunity. The short notice was bad, but I've been wondering how I'd do up in Red. I ran back to my car to fetch my gear and assembled in record time.
How about that, I went from merely watching the game to playing the game from the best seat in the house! Hooray!
Not that it was easy. Lindsay and Sharon made sure to welcome me to Red with a breakaway goal apiece, both in the first period. It was kind of comical, actually. When Lindsay came charging at me, all I could think was, "Wow, I've never had anyone skate at me so fast!" The next thing I knew the puck sailed over my left shoulder and into the back of the net. Sharon did something similar soon afterward.
So I learned. I realized that I was reacting like a Green goalie, i.e. dropping just before the shot, expecting the puck to slide at me on the ice. I made it a point to stay up on breakaways, and was able to stop them on subsequent runs.
I did let another through in the second period, though. A skater came in on the right side, drawing me and two of my D. I dropped, newbie error, and she sent the puck to the left, where there was nothing but a wiiide open skater and a wiiide open net.
Final score: 2-3. I'll take it, considering I faced a team that has lost only once this season. I'm okay with the breakaway goals, partly because they came off the sticks of two of the top players in Red, and mainly because I learned from them and was able to adjust.
I had a great time, and even though we didn't win, I hope I put in a decent enough performance so that no one's out there shaking her head about their rent-a-goalie. Despite the loss, I thought my team played a great game and did an excellent job controlling the puck.
And I got to play with my Red Division friends again. *grins*
11:06 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (12)
February 21, 2005 / Monday
Christmas Tree Goalie: Whoa, Three In A Row
Three in a row? Yes, that's right, recorded my third straight shutout tonight. Is this real?
Yeah, it's real, but I think it just means I'm damned lucky. In every game, shutout or not, so many of the shots that don't make it in miss only by inches. In some cases, they miss only because of a goalpost bounce.
Take Secret Weapon's shot last week, for example. Or, this week, Susi's 3 feet from the blue line shot that lifted, reached me shin-height, went five-hole, bounced off the inside of my right led pad, and back out off the left goalpost. Sorry, Susi. That one shoulda gone in.
But it didn't, and I somehow managed to glove and stick some great midair shots from Kendra and Sue. The minutes wound down, and the final buzzer sounded. 25 shots stopped.
Final score: 3-0. I had expected far worse, considering I had both wrists wrapped up for this one. I'd also been icing my left wrist for the last hour, and was in need of more Advil.
Everyone on both teams played well, despite the short benches (4-on-4 with benches of 7 and 8). Some of the Green skaters are looking like they're ready to make a run for Red next season.
One more month 'til next season! Holy moly!
12:38 AM | Christmas Tree| Comments (6)
February 13, 2005 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie: Shhh! Don't Say It!
Huzzah! Got me another shutout, but only because the goalpost helped me out. Played in net for the GMP tonight against Andrea's team. The first couple of periods went well; my team was aggressive and really good about going after opponents with the puck. The third period was a bit of a challenge. I'm guessing it was because the team was tired, but all of a sudden all my D decided to insert themselves between me and the puck, leaving me unable to see the incoming shot from what was in many cases a wide open shooter. Shift after shift, shot after shot, I yelled, "Don't screen me!" but it didn't seem to have much of an effect. Finally, late in the third period, AndreaTan, a.k.a. Secret Weapon, got the puck toward the back corner of our zone, with all the time in the world and no one going after her. Between us were 4 or 5 skaters: 2 or 3 from her team and 2 from my team, all looking at her for ... I dunno what! I was screaming for my skaters to mooove. I shifted right to try to see the puck. AndreaTan shot toward our collective left (collective right, if you're AndreaTan). The puck lifted, flew, pinged off the bottom of the far goalpost, flipped up 3 feet in the air, and landed in my glove.
Phew!
Final score: 1-0.
As usual, I retweaked my left shoulder. The wrist ain't happy either, but what else is new?
10:51 PM | Christmas Tree:Injuries| Comments (2)
February 06, 2005 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie: My First Fremont Game
Dressed up as a Christmas tree and played my first ever Fremont game in net. I'd only ever had practices there, and I remembered that the bigger rink messed with me when it came to angles.
I hadn't been in net in almost 3 weeks, and when I suited up, I felt like crap. Dunno if it was 'cause I've been eating nothing but crap all week, or 'cause the game was just a little earlier than I'm used to. My guess is it was the former.
Did I mention I felt like crap? At one point, the puck started coming down into my zone, and the rink started going dark. That hasn't happened since I started goalieing -- back when I was out of goalie shape.
Despite all that, I somehow managed a shutout against 24 shots. How I managed it, I don't know ... but I'll take it!
Andreatan, a.k.a. Secret Weapon, got a rippin' shot off on me from the blue line. It was deflected and went wide, but she had enough heat on it that it had buzzed by my shoulder and past the goal line before I could even move my body. I turned my head, but that was about it. That's some powerful stuff!
Barb, a.k.a. the Barbinator, coached my team, along with Chris, a.k.a. Just Chris. Soon after the first puck drop, I heard the ever familiar Burninator *thump* *thump* *thump* from our bench. I looked up and Barb was looking back at me with this huge grin on her face. I *thump*ed back, but really, I should have given them a little dance.
Anyway, I was tired, but I had a good time, fought off a blackout, and recorded a shutout. All in all, a pretty decent Christmas tree outing. :)
Oops, almost forgot. Final score: 2-0.
11:12 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (2)
January 19, 2005 / Wednesday
I Need Lights!
bubka^4: finally, i know what this "christmas tree goalie" stuff is all about ;)
bubka^4: you need lights
bubka^4: or a big bright star on your mask
I need lights *and* a big bright star on my mask.
09:43 AM | Christmas Tree| Comments (10)
January 18, 2005 / Tuesday
Christmas Tree Goalie: What, You Thought I Was Kidding?
Karen B took some awesome pictures at the Green game this weekend. Here you have it, proof that I look like a Christmas tree when I play in net.
I look at those pics and I can't help but start singing.
O Christmas tree
O Christmas tree
Your goalie gear's so festive
07:23 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (4)
January 17, 2005 / Monday
Christmas Tree Goalie: A Win! Phew!
Played in net again today. Gave up a stupid stupid goal halfway through the 1st period. I sealed up the post with my skate but had my stick in funnel-the-puck-into-the-net position. How much more stupid stupid can you get? Sheesh!
Fortunately, my team scored one later that period and I felt better. Before the 3rd period, I told them to score one more 'cause I wanted to win, and they obliged. Thanks, team!
I had an okay day, I guess. Nothing else too stupid stupid after the first goal. Had an "Eeek!" moment in the 3rd when one of the skaters, on a breakaway, did not shoot at the nice fatty goalie target I presented (as most Green skaters do) but instead opted to lift the puck over my stickside shoulder. I watched it soar over me and heard a ping. Fortunately, it pinged up off the crossbar and out. They're learning to lift the puck! Oh no!
Time to break my drop-and-stop habit.
Liz had another good day in net. She made a 3 save combo toward the end of the game that had me dancing in my net for her. Stick save, stick save, diving over the head glove save, with a fancy schmancy puck reveal after the whistle blew. Good stuff!
Final score: 2-1. Again! How about that? Karen was there to take pictures. I can't wait to see how they turned out.
As a bonus, a lot of my Red Division friends were there tonight for the game following. I hadn't seen some of them in a couple months. It was great to hang out and catch up. I miss that!
Nothing in net for a few weeks. I hope I still remember how to play when I return!
12:00 AM | Christmas Tree| Comments (5)
January 11, 2005 / Tuesday
Christmas Tree Goalie: Tuesday, Ugh!
I ugh for Tuesday night NCWHL slots. The whole rink is overrun by grade school boys from the practice just before us. There's no place to change, the kids are loud, stinky, immature, and really rile on my nerves. As I told Liz earlier tonight, it makes me not want anything more than a dog.
No, really. As I told Wendy, I fucking hate Tuesdays (at the rink). Sorry Wendy for the cursing.
So there. I don't want kids. Ever.
Anyway, the game was great. I played well, Liz played well, the skaters all played well. Fun was had by all. Well, all that I spoke with afterward, at least. :)
Something for me to work on: I gotta stop giving up fatty rebounds. I told myself earlier in the game to quit doing it or it'd burn me, and what did I do later? I gave one up and got burned.
S'okay. Burn and learn.
Final score: 2-1. My team saved my ass by scoring in the last minute of the game. Thank you, team!
That said, my highlight of the game was getting to watch all the badass saves Liz made in the other net. I had the best seat in the house!
As an added bonus, Wendy gave me a spillproof cup to help with my drinking problem. :) Thanks Wendy!
• • •
Tweaked my left shoulder *again*. I lift my weights and work my rotator cuffs, but reaching out to cover the puck tweaks that shoulder every time. Dammit!
11:01 PM | Christmas Tree:Injuries| Comments (0)
January 04, 2005 / Tuesday
Christmas Tree Goalie Practice: Ow, My Knees
Went to goalie practice tonight. Wore my new wrist brace, since my stick wrist has been totally killing me. No pain during practice, so I'm guessing it helps.
Practiced more butterflying, and scooting on one knee when down. Took horseshoe drill shots for what seemed like forever ... and then some. Was tired, but didn't at any point feel like I was going to pass out. All right!
I think I need to buy hinged knee braces for this butterflying stuff, though. That, and figure out how to cushion my knees better. Dropping on the ice hurts, even through my knee brace, sweatpants, knee protectors, and goalie pad flaps. I'm gonna have a nice fatty bruise on my right knee tomorrow from all the butterfly dropping tonight.
I got a good workout, learned some new tricks, and got better (I think). Went for a bite to eat with some friends afterward. All in all, a pretty darned decent evening.
11:35 PM | Christmas Tree:Injuries| Comments (6)
December 05, 2004 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie: Redemption
After my last goalie outing disaster, I was a little apprehensive going into tonight's game, especially because it was pretty much the same group of skaters on either side of the puck. I spoke with our coach a little before the game, and she agreed to have a few words with the D beforehand and let me give the team pep talks and advice between periods. It worked out pretty well. There was much less skater butt in my face, and not too much deflection of the puck toward me. The player who did it the most last time was still doing it, but everyone else pretty much improved, so I can't complain.
Final score: 4-0. I think. I'm not sure. Maybe it was 3-0. In any case, it was nice to get a shutout after, well, last time, which I hope to stop talking about for good after tonight. 28 shots on goal. Not too shabby.
I definitely had a much better time focusing on the puck and not getting frustrated tonight. I think frustration, in part, did me in last time. Or maybe this time it was the angst. I always play my best games when the rest of my life sucks. Not that my life sucks. It's just felt that way lately.
But I digress (for now) ...
People kept coming up to me after the game and telling me about one of my falls and how they all couldn't stop laughing behind the scorekeeper's table. Apparently that was my blooper reel of the night. Something about my feet flailing and me ending up on my back, and how it looked like I had antigravity boots on. I don't remember it, but okay. I'm happy to amuse.
My personal favorite was my SportsCenter clip of the night. I blocked a shot coming in from the left with my stick blade and the puck rebounded to the right, where there was a WIDE OPEN WING (where was my D?!). I lunged right, and deflected the rebound shot with the side of the stick while sliding across the front of the goal. My bench erupted in cheers. I was stunned. Did I just do that?! Whoa!
Yeah, whoa, cool. I'll have to try to remember that for next time.
Digressing back to the original point of digression: angst. I have a hate hate hate / love when I get a good game out of it relationship with angst. This calls for a poem. Sorry in advance if it sucks.
Ode to Angst
you make my life hell
you fuck up my sleep
suck up my motivation
you're my private Red nation
you come on and smother me
knock me down and i slide
slide
that fucking spiral
slippery as hell
you're good for one thing, though
game time
the one time
i can put you aside
without you
i feel free
full of energy
that's yours, i think
i hate you
but looking back at tonight
i should thank you
so thanks
that's not to say
i want you to stay
i hope i've used you up
and if not
well
i've got more games to play
11:31 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (0)
November 10, 2004 / Wednesday
Okay, I Feel Better ... Kinda
I've had a little more time to reflect on last night's game and my reaction to it. It ain't so bad. I like the other team's captain, I like the other team's goalie, I like the other team's skaters, and I'm happy for them that they won. I didn't realize this until I read Andrea's blog just now, 'cause, well, all I could really think about was what I saw, which, uh, wasn't very much.
I believe this loss falls into the same category as BT4 from Sunday's A-Team II game: Not fun, but at least it was to people I like, so okay.
Yeah, okay.
And now to deal with all the other downers this week.
11:02 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (7)
November 09, 2004 / Tuesday
(Not Quite A) Christmas Tree Goalie: My First Loss
Netminded a Green game tonight. Didn't have to wear the dark jersey for once. Given the final score, maybe I should stick with the dark one.
Final score: 2-5. There goes my (1) unbeaten record and (2) save percentage. Shots on goal: 38.
Before I start rarring, let me take a moment to thank Andrea, a.k.a. Secret Weapon, a.k.a. captain of the other team, for telling her team not to squish me or otherwise knock on my head. Thank you, from the bottom of my slightly-too-eager-to-play heart, and from the very core of my Secret-Weapon-edict-protected head.
<rarr>
Aside from Yosh, who did a wonderful job as always, I had the world's worst D backing me up. Actually, it was more like, I had the world's worst pair of D asses backing up into me so I couldn't see. They'd screen me at faceoffs 'cause they didn't know where to line up. They'd stand DIRECTLY in front of me and stare at the puck when the play was in our zone. That's just great. I couldn't see and the forwards from the other team camped out in front of the net untouched. When the puck came near my D, they'd get their stick on it, but only enough to whack the puck away about two feet, so I'd be out of position (expecting the shot to come through) right as someone from the other team, having been left wide open, would step in and shoot it.
Betsy, on the other team, stated it very well when she said, "I'd be in front of the net and there'd be 3 white jerseys around me and I'd be free to do whatever I wanted with my stick." This was all too obvious when, in the third period, I saw her standing there in front of me with one of my D standing right next to her, watching the puck. She waited and waited, and finally moved after I took my goalie stick and lifted her stick. WTF?!
And, of course, there was goal number two scored on me. My left D, screening me with her butt, whacked at an incoming puck and deflected it into my goal. Thanks a lot.
Can we just clone Yosh next time and let everyone else play forward?
Kendra gets props, though. She dropped herself back to D for the third period, and no more goals were scored on us afterward. Thank you, Kendra, for doing something about the situation!
</rarr>
I am not entirely free of blame. I'm sure a more experienced goalie would not have let 5 in. It was just frustrating to have D that made life so difficult, that's all. Now I finally understand, in the most painfully clear way, why they teach us from day one to play the player, not the puck. The player can't shoot if you're on them, and the goalie will see the puck, as long as you clear out of the way.
Yes, I realize this is Green Division, and the players are still learning. I guess I've just never "faced" this particular combination of D against this particular combination of opposing forwards before.
I think I'll be sending some practice recommendations to the Green Division head coach.
10:53 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (8)
October 24, 2004 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie Practice: Flutter Flutter!
Had goalie practice today, and got some good coaching.
Hrmm, I'm not really movitated to write a lot at the moment. Let me cut to the chase.
I learned to butterfly today! I didn't wrench my knees in the process, either.
There. Woop!
11:29 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (0)
October 17, 2004 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie: A Win! Huzzah!
Another Sunday, another hockey game. Played goalie tonight. Got scored on by Sarah (go Sarah!) on a breakaway (one of MANY tonight) 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Damned five-hole. Fortunately, my team scored 3 after that. I was sittin' pretty until later in the game, when I went down totally out of position, left leg bent and under me, right leg straight and to the side, the rest of me totally stuck with a gaping hole under my right leg. Very unpretty. Someone slid the puck under my right leg and scored. D'oh!
Fortunately, that was all the scoring that happened tonight, and I escaped with a win. Final score: 3-2. Stopped a LOT of breakaway shots. First time I've been on the receiving end of that many breakaways. I guess I've been lucky with the team (more like, team plus sub lineup) draw up until now.
I'm getting better at sliding from post to post. Yay!
As an added bonus, Marci sent a sprained thumb care package of wrap plus instructions on how to use it. Thanks, Marci! That is most rad!
10:01 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (6)
October 10, 2004 / Sunday
Christmas Tree Goalie: Feeling A Little More Comfy
Green Division away goalie tonight. I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable in net. I'm more willing to come out more, after finally understanding that standing close to the net creates larger gaps to shoot through. I've also started to find that I'm positioned more squarely than I used to be (I do over-the-shoulder checks a lot). I guess it's a lot like skating out: I just need more ice time.
I *almost* lost my first game in net tonight. In the second period, one of the Sues (the one who likes to run the puck down the ice) got three breakaways in a row on me. I stopped the first two, but the third one made it in (five-hole, of course). The score remained 0-1 until just under a minute to go in the game, and in the midst of a mad scramble in front of the other net, my team scored! 1-1! Yeah! We went into OT, ran the clock out, and I escaped with a tie. Phew!
I definitely had some eek moments in the game. For one thing, I give up faaat rebounds. Gotta stop that. For another, I have a really weak stick for passing. Gotta strengthen that.
Oh, one more thing: I sprained my thumb getting out of my goalie gear. Laaame!
11:03 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (4)
October 05, 2004 / Tuesday
Christmas Tree Goalie
Played in net for the first Green game of the season. I defended the away goal, which meant a green jersey, which always makes me feel like a Christmas tree, since my pads are black and red. Ho ho ho, I won! I didn't let anything easy through, and was scored on only once by a wide open forward on the weak side. Final score: 2-1. I forgot to ask how many shots on goal there were. Hey, Secret Weapon, care to share?
Speaking of Secret Weapon, she got a badass shot off on me. Just like Liz described, and just as I feared, the crowds parted, my eyes got wide, and the puck hit my stick with enough force that it flew up, bounced off my right shoulder, into the goalpost, and deflected *just* wide. Phew!
Liz and I came up with a couple new goalie thangs tonight. Liz seems to have perfected the sideways goalie lounge, which amazingly seals up any and all ice along the goal line. I, on the other hand, discovered the goalie crawl, which I had to use when I sprawled and launched my stick 5 feet away. Oops, I wasn't supposed to launch that, was I?
11:38 PM | Christmas Tree| Comments (6)
August 17, 2004 / Tuesday
Last Ice Before I Lose My Teeth
Stepped on the ice for the last time before I go under on Thursday. Played my second ever Green goalie game tonight. Let in a couple of goals by pulling some newbie netminder crap, but fortunately no more than that.
Final score: 3-2. I won in net! I won in net!
I won, but only because Secret Weapon came up BIG and scored two goals tonight, all while playing D. Yes, D! The second one was a total Secret Weapon shot, too. It was hard enough that even though it hit the other goalie's stick it still went in.
Anyway, I gave up a five hole breakaway shot to Jena (good going, Jena!) and then a wraparound on my left. I almost gave up a wraparound on my right earlier in the game. Need to promote that to the top of my list of things to work on. Gotta learn to seal up that area next to the post!
Finally got to try out my new goalie gear. I love the skates. I can stand straight and even lean back a little withough falling over! The catcher and blocker rock; they're way comfy. The helmet was okay ... I have less visibility in my goalie helmet than I'm used to. I'll adjust over time.
I retweaked my knee, my shoulder is still mysteriously sore, and for some reason my neck was aching and stiff the whole time, but I survived, and my body will soon get a nice long break from hockey to heal.
• • •
I always drive a bit like Speed Racer after hockey, so of course I zipped around the curves near Lake Merced and raced cars at each stoplight down Sunset. My accomplishment of the night: soundly beating an RX-8 off the line. There's something really satisfying about beating a lighter, more powerful, more expensive car. Ha! Take that! Pow!
11:28 PM | Christmas Tree:Injuries:Vroom!:Wisdom Teeth| Comments (0)
July 13, 2004 / Tuesday
I Played Goalie ... And I Didn't Die!
Yay! I survived my first ever game as a goalie. So what if I got scored on 40 seconds into the game? I didn't die!
Actually, things weren't so bad after the first goal. We finished the game 2-2. The other one I let in was on a 2-on-1 breakaway, so I don't feel *too* terrible about it. I made some ugly saves in the 3rd (Hail Mary flails after I'd totally taken myself out of position), but they were saves, so I can't complain. I'll take a tie for my first game any day.
I was lucky tonight: Liz (a goalie) was there to coach, and Ballerina Pimp (also a goalie) from my Red team was there to ref, so I got lots of help from them both before and after the game. Otherwise, I would never have managed to get the gear on!
Got to see Jan play for the first time in a couple years. She did a good job on D tonight! Hooray for Jan!
Holy moly moment of the night: Andrea Tan, a.k.a. Secret Weapon, wide open and receiving a pass in the right faceoff circle. I think my eyes bugged out of my head as I anticipated the shot. First one didn't make it, and then ... another! Didn't anyone tell my skaters not to leave Secret Weapon wide open?! Aie!
Time for bed. Yoga tomorrow. Yes, me, yoga.
Insane Puck Posse game tomorrow, too. Should be a good one!
