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Kings are Losing Ugly


Ugly, Ugly, Ugly. The Kings lost to the Ducks today 6-2 and it wasn’t even that close. And they lost on Thursday to Edmonton in a way that wasn’t as ugly but still was ugly.

There are two interesting stories from the games, one from Thursday’s game and one from today’s game. On Thursday’s game, Annette caught one of the tennis balls that the Kings Crew throws into the crowds. As a result, we won a two item dinner for one from Panda Express. Yes, only one. There was a bigger prize to be won. If the player whose number was on the ball you caught scored next, then you won the grand prize. Our ball had number 20 on it. Luc’s number. So, we were pretty excited. Luc’s been playing well and, as luck would have it, he scored next. We won the grand prize. What could it be? Kings stuff? A jersey? Nope, we won the panda in the picture.

For today’s game, the only redeeming part of the game was that Annette and I showed up early for the game and watched the warmups from next to the glass. We had made up a sign to have Luc sign our tickets from the 1/19 game. No such luck. We had a couple of other signs, one that said Welcome Back Eric, which was for Eric Belanger, who was playing again after missing a number of games. Standing next to us was a kid who was about 4 years old, maybe younger. Annette started talking to the kid and eventually, he was standing in front of her, next to me. Since we were standing in the photographers area, there is a small door, about the size of the puck, in the glass. Eric Belanger gave the kid a puck through the door for the kid. Way to go, Eric! So, we didn’t get out ticket signed by Luc but we did help a kid get a real NHL puck.

Is it just me or is this blog turning into a hockey blog?

One last thing. I’m looking forward to a good game on Monday by the Kings so they’ll beat the Ducks.

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Is the Real Jimmy Buffett Dead?

Cruising google news for something to read, clicked on my personalized search for Jimmy Buffett news. I found some article that was reviewing the Cheese Burger in Paradise restraurants. I think that the real Jimmy Buffett is dead. Who is the real Jimmy Buffett? I’m not so sure but somewhere Jimmy Buffett changed from a promoter to some sort of PT Barnum for the overweight, middle-aged, white crowd who is desperately trying to cling to some sort of youth. It seems that everytime I see an article about him it seems that the fans have become more and more like tropical trekkies. Yes, I know the preferred terms trekker but I think Parrotheads are more like trekkies with more of a sex life.
From 1979 until 2000, I had faithfully gone to every Jimmy tour except for a acoustic tour that I think was called the Homecoming Tour in 1982. I was in college and couldn’t afford the ticket. Pity, since it was the only time that he has toured mostly acoustic. Anyway, something has changed. Maybe it is me since I’m now over 40 years old but I frankly don’t remember all of the conformist at the concerts that I see today. For most of the concerts I went to see, the crowd was mixed. There were guys dressed up in tropical gear, bbqers, and others. The parties were somewhat spontaneous and definitely cheap. Usually just steaks on a grill with some beer. Now, the tailgate is rather extensive with as much money spent on the booze and food than I used to make in a week during the 1990’s. I don’t get it. I still like the music but the fans are nuts.
On to more important things. 🙂 I’m off to the Kings game tonight. God, I hope they can win. They’ve looked crappy in losing 3 of the last 4 games. They need the two points. Go Kings Go!
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Stupid Calls

So, there are so many types of stupid calls. Calls from insurance guys trying to upsell you. Calls from the newspaper trying to get you to subscribe. Then there’s conference calls at work. I’m on this call, have added one thing, and I am stuck here at lunch. I guess it is ok since I’m on mute right now.

More Kings news: They lost badly to the Ducks. F*&^ I hate the Ducks. I did have an open mind about the Ducks but during their first home game, Disney decided to do a holiday on ice thing with Disney characters. Very not hockey like. Thus, the start of my hatred for the Ducks.

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Overall, It's Ok

So, overall, life is ok. One of the things I’m interested in doing in restoring vintage streamline passenger cars. Yesterday, I spent a little time doing this and not getting much done. It seems I was moving a bit slow. Maybe it was all the talking I was doing. Anyway, I did volunteer work and that’s what counts.

The Kings continue to do well. Although they lost last night, they’ve won 10 of their last 12 and are still perched in 1st place. Cool. Go Kings Go.

Waiting for my neice to meet me this morning. I’m helping her study high school biology. Should be interesting to see how much I can help.

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More Time Passes

Ok, so I survived the holidays with only minimal damage. I caught the killer cold the week of December 12th. Or was it the flu? I don’t know. What I do know is that I spent the week throwing up and not eating. I was so sick I didn’t use my Kings tickets that I had for Decemebr 14th.

The Kings are doing well again. After losing 6 of 8 in early December the Kings have rallied to win 6 of their last 7 at the end of the month. They are now back in first place by two points although Dallas has 4 games in hand.

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Moving on Up

So the slide of the Los Angeles Kings seems to have abated. They beat the Mighty Ducks, Coyotes, and Canucks for three wins in a row. This puts them into the middle of the playoff race and in a tie for first place in the Pacific division with Dallas.

My favorite moment in the last game was Sean Avery fighting a guy a head taller and 50 pounds heavier. I swear Sean had to jump every time he swung so that he could hit the guy.

This last weekend, my dad, wife, niece, and I went to Oakland/San Francisco for an outing for my dad’s 80th birthday. We took Amtrak and what a nightmare. I enjoy traveling by train and often take the train when I can. San Diego, no problems. Santa Barbara, no problems. San Luis Obispo, no problem. Oakland, lots of problem. What’s the difference? To get to Oakland from LA requires a trip on the Coast Starlight. This train is frequently late and our trip proved no exception. We arrived 6 hours late into Oakland at 0130 with a nice rain coming down. Fun. Fortunately, we took a San Joquain train home and arrive only 30 minutes late because of traffic from the bus portion of the trip.

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The Slide Continues

Yech! The slide continues. The Kings lost in Montreal, beat Toronto, and lost at home to Carolina. Seems that the Kings can only play two good periods at the moment and lose the game in the other period. The worse thing is that they are in second place and Dallas has 4 games in hand.

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Ugh!

The Kings are in a bit of a slump. They’ve lost two in a row for the first time this season. Not only did they lose two in a row, they’re playing bad. Stinking up the place bad. To make matters worse, they are losing 2-0 to the Senators and have scored 3 power play goals in the last 45 power plays. Hell, I might be able to do that. Ok, maybe not, but you get the point.

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Sunday, Sunday

Annette and I went to a few more Kings games over the last two weeks. Last night we saw them defeat the ‘Hawks and we are going to the Red Wings-Kings game tomorrow. I’m hoping the Kings can beat the ‘Wings.

Gotta love this:

Western Conference
Team GP Pts
1. * Detroit 25 36
2. * Los Angeles 24 33
3. * Vancouver 24 32
4. Nashville 21 31
5. Dallas 23 31
6. Calgary 25 31
7. Edmonton 25 29
8. Phoenix 26 28
9. Colorado 23 27
10. Minnesota 22 22
11. Anaheim 24 22
12. San Jose 23 20
13. Chicago 22 18
14. Columbus 24 12
15. St. Louis 22 11
* = Division Leader

My Kings are number two in the western conference, first in the Pacific Division. Sweet…..

The other big news is that Annette was approved to take her marriage and family therapy licensing tests. Woo-hoo! She did 3,000 hours of internship and needed to get them approved by the state. She had stressed immensely over the approval process. She received the good news yesterday. Now, all she has to do is pass two tests.