It's Finally Done!

I mentioned some time ago I had decided to branch out with my hockey blogging , but I hadn't completely decided on the plan to execute my idea.  It took some time, a lot of thinking, and a great deal of editing help from a dear friend, but I'm finally ready to unveil my new adventure.

Welcome to Kings Court!

All my musings on my beloved Los Angeles Kings will now be posted here: http://lakingscourt.blogspot.com/

I have a Twitter account for Kings Court as well, and I have something planned for Facebook but haven't had time to execute it yet.  It's been an incredible experience carrying a nagging little idea in the back of my mind to something fully realized, and I hope you decide to follow along. 

If you don't, A Life Less Ordinary will be still be here so you know what's happening with me personally.  Whatever your choice, I hope you enjoy reading!

A CUT Above

"To the victor go the spoils" - or so the saying goes. So thanks to the Philadelphia Flyers loss of Lord Stanley's Cup in June, I won a bet I made with my friend Tammy and had the privilege of dining in one of the finest restaurants in Los Angeles.

Tammy and I both appreciate a good meal, and when we made the bet, we knew someone was pulling out the spare credit card. We did not bet on dinner at a specific restaurant, only that the location would be the winners choice and there was no budget. In LA, that gives you some dangerous options, to say the least. When were getting around to scheduling the evening and discussing restaurant choices, I really didn't have anything specific in mind when Tammy started throwing out names of steakhouses. We both enjoy a good steak, and it's not the kind of meal either of us enjoy on a regular basis. But I also wanted her to help choose the location, because I thought it would be fun to go somewhere neither of us had been before. That helped narrow the choices sufficiently for us to choose CUT in Beverly Hills.

Attach the name Wolfgang Puck to anything related to food and you know you're in for an amazing experience. Locate a Wolfgang Puck restaurant in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel (which is owned by the Four Seasons hotel group) and you have an evening fit for a princess (That would be me, in case you were wondering who the princess is in this little dining drama).

Can I move in?

I had a bit better luck than Tammy in the traffic department, so I enjoyed a cocktail at Sidecar (conveniently located right next door) while I was waiting.

The gentleman seated next to me was enjoying some bone marrow flan off the restaurant menu. Gorgeous presentation, but a little off the scale in experimentation for my taste buds.

When Tammy finally arrived, we got seated and she started perusing the wine list.

The sommelier stopped by and asked if we needed some help deciding, and I was impressed immediately by two things. First, the sommelier was a woman. Second, she didn't linger and make us feel pressured to choose. She made some lovely recommendations and left us alone with our thoughts. After an additional few words of encouragement from our charming waiter, Tammy chose a perfect syrah for our meal.

Cheers!

Then we set about the formidable task of deciding what to eat. If you've never enjoyed dining at a place like this before, everything is a la carte, so you order entrees and side dishes separately and the portions are large enough to share. And because you're spending a Kings ransom on a steak, they even bring the various cuts of meat over on a gleaming silver tray so you can inspect the degree and consistency of the marbling (or in steak parlance, fat, which makes it more tender and juicy when cooked) in the cut of meat you're considering. And we also received a bit of eduction on Kobe beef, which apparently is under embargo right now, so unless you go to Japan you cannot enjoy "true" Kobe beef, although you can have very fine beef in the "Kobe style." So many decisions....

Of course, in addition to being charming, our waiter was French (originally from Lyon) and retained just enough of his original accent to contribute the perfect ambiance to the ordering process. This was our conversation:

Adorable French waiter: "And for you madam?"
Me: "I'll have the Nebraska rib eye, please."
Adorable French waiter: "Lovely! How would you like it prepared?"
Me: "Rare."
Adorable French waiter: "Very good...*raising eyebrows*...and your side order?"
Me: "I would love to try this incredible macaroni and cheese."
Adorable French waiter: "*smiles and nods*...The perfect meal!"
Me: "Can I take you home with me?"

Before we got down the main course, we did have a lovely crab and shrimp appetizer. I promptly apologized to Tammy for photographing my food, but I don't live like a princess every day, and documentation was necessary.

I had every intention of taking pictures of my incredible steak, the heavenly mac and cheese, and some truly amazing creamed spinach I shared with Tammy, but the wine and the appetizer got the best of me. Plus there was a very handsome fellow at the next table that kept glancing over at me. Initially, he sat down alone and I thought he might be security, ready to throw me out of the place for photoing Mr. Puck's lovely food and attempting to steal his secrets. Luckily another man joined him, so he's probably just an out-of-work actor.

And even though we had absolutely no room for dessert, we got just a little something sweet to finish off the loveliest meal I've had in a long time.

Sadly, it was time to leave.    And even more sadly, THIS chariot was not included in the deal... 

But a girl can dream, right?

Every Day Is A Birthday

I've been fielding questions for the past several days from friends asking what my "big plans" are for my birthday. I think because my life is normally so busy in general, everyone expects some kind of superhuman craziness out of me on "The Big Day."

But aside from a fire drill in my building sometime between 6-10 PM, I have absolutely no plans for "The Big Day." And it doesn't concern me in the least. Because birthdays are like life. Some of life's moments are big, colorful, momentous and unforgettable. Some are peaceful, easy, and simple. And as hectic and my life has been lately, I've actually been looking forward to peaceful and easy. Besides, my life is pretty darn awesome on a daily basis, whether it's my birthday or not. Isn't every day a cause for celebration?

Then I got a text from a friend who was preparing for an interview where one of the questions was, "Do you have a philosophy for work and for life?" And I realized I do. My philosophy is this:

Live every day like it's your birthday.

Birthdays are a celebration of life. The day you were born, the world changed irrevocably. And it keeps growing and changing in new and wonderful ways every day you're here. With every choice you make, every experience you have, every investment of your time and talent, and every person you touch or share your life with, you change the energy in the universe! Sometimes it happens in little ways, and sometimes the changes are big. But no matter what size the impact, it's uniquely yours. Isn't that worth celebrating?

Special things happen to you every day, if you just pay attention and recognize them. The smile on your face from a silly text message from your craziest friend. The feeling of the sun and wind on your face driving the freeway with the top down. The unexpected invitation to a baseball game. The joy you hear in someones voice when you call them out of the blue. The fun of wearing your favorite party dress and strappy silver shoes to work on a random Thursday.


(Yes, I am wearing this to work...today!)

So don't wait for your "official" birthday to celebrate all the amazing things in your life. Get out every day and LIVE IT.

Coach Dad

I spent the Fathers Day weekend watching one of the best Dads I know in action in one of the many roles he plays - The Coach.



I am officially in awe of my younger brother. He works two jobs but still manages to find a way to support his boys and pass on his love of baseball, along with the life lessons it helps teach them.

Like all great coaches, he knows you need the right energy to be successful.



He understands how much a few words of encouragement matter before you start an important task.



And he knows a great coach is always there to back you up.



And as anyone who has coached someone to success knows, the rewards outweigh the sacrifices involved in being available when you're needed.

Sometimes those rewards come in physical form.



But just as often, the real reward takes a human form.



So to all the wonderful men out there being "Coach Dad," AND so much more to the people in their lives, Happy Fathers Day.

Gifts That Keep Giving

I was chatting with a friend the other day about birthday gifts, and we were commiserating about how gifting in general has gotten so overblown and materialistic that the true beauty of giving a gift seems to get lost in the shuffle.

My friend's latest challenge was a gift for a 1 year old girl's birthday -- the kind of shopping task which would receive top difficulty points from me. But this particular little girl had a very smart and creative mother with an unusual gift request. They were planting a flower garden in honor of their daughter's birthday so they would have something to enjoy every year when they celebrated. All they wanted were flowers to add to the garden!











I was so struck by the beauty and simplicity of this idea I just had to share it. It just goes to show that the best gifts can be creative, inexpensive, meaningful AND beautiful! And if you know enough about gardening to choose a flowering perennial, you're REALLY choosing a gift that keeps on giving -- year after year!

What creative ideas have you used in your gift giving?

Kings vs Oilers: Appreciation

The Kings final home game each season is officially known as "Fan Appreciation Day." For me, it normally signals the beginning of what I like to call "The Great Depression," that horrible moment when I first acknowledge I'm seeing my boys for the last time until August.

This year, thankfully, is different since the Kings will see play-off action for the first time in 8 long years. But there is still that twinge of sadness, knowing the end is in sight and summer is almost here.

Missing my boys is the main thing that makes me sad, but the end of the season also means I don't get to share hockey every week with some on my favorite people on Earth. They are my Kings hockey family, and I love them more than words can say. So this blog is my way of showing MY "fan appreciation" for the people that make me love hockey, and the Kings, so very much.

To Brianna and Jen Wells


You are the crown princesses of all the Kings faithful. From the socks, to the signs, to the inside jokes, and everything in between, you've made my days following the Kings colorful, crazy and fun. There is barely a person in Staples Center that DOESN'T know one or both of you, and they all love the way you light up their world. We still need to get together on that little music project we talked about (nudge, nudge....) so I'll be seeing you this summer!

To Jay Flats


Your enthusiastic smile lights up every game and makes it special. You are so wonderful and welcoming to every fan you meet, and your energy is unstoppable and crazy. And having you skateboard up behind me and call out "Hey, pretty lady!" when I'm walking home always puts a smile on my face. And yeah, you're funny as hell and you keep us laughing on those nights when the Kings are making us ready to cry. I'm happy to be your staff photographer anytime. You know where to find me.

To Michael Timoney


You ARE the Kings Crew! No one loves the Kings more than you. You've been dressed as an elf, a Star, a huge white bear, and a million other things his season, and rocked the craziness every time. You're still the most accurate t-shirt cannon shooter in the business, and playing t-shirt slingshot with you at Tip-a-King still ranks as one of my favorite memories from this season. And you're a pretty good hockey player in your own right - Go BOU!! I will ALWAYS be your one and only "Timoney-cam" operator.

To Rachel Craig-Parker


You are the one person on Earth who understands what capturing a memory visually means to me. Thank you for tolerating my big hair in your sight line and listening to my musings on life. You are a unique spirit, and I know I made a friend for life when I met you this year. And you're the only person I know with powerful enough karma to make the perfect sign fall right out of the sky and land at your feet. Keep it coming!

To Luis


For most of your co-workers, being an usher is a job. For you, it's a calling. I will miss your weekly hugs, the roster card you leave on my seat, and all the fun little things you do...like bringing candy at key moments! I look forward to seeing your smile at every game, and I'll truly miss you over the summer. And if your bosses even THINK about reassigning you from Section 114 next year, there will be a riot!

To Nadine


This is all your fault, and I love you for it every day. So many of my favorite hockey experiences, this year and every year, have happened because of you. Being your video queen wing man has been a blast, and you're never getting rid of that "We Believe" sign, because I'm convinced it has luck attached to it. And thanks in advance for giving up your seat for the Kings-Caps Cup final this year so I can keep your husband company while you go commune with your Caps family. But I'm keeping the sign....

And in honor of his incredible career, I do have to throw in one special "official" appreciation mention, to the incomparable Bob Miller


Every time I listen to other sportscasters cover hockey, I realize how truly privileged I am to listen to you talk about the Kings. You're the best in the business, and Los Angeles is lucky to have you. Thank you for all you do, every day, every game, every season. The play-offs will be more special just because you're there.

Finally, I haven't posted a video in a while, so I wanted to share a little piece of Drew participating in the finest player-fan tradition I've ever seen in sports -- giving a fan the jersey off your back.



Thanks to all of you for everything you do to make my life a little happier every week. I am your biggest fan.

GO KINGS GO!

An Easter For The Record Books

What do you get when you combine 8 people, 3 dogs, a mountain of food, and an earthquake? A California Easter Celebration hosted by my friends John and Nadine Donat! They sure know how to throw a party!

I love the fact that I have an incredibly diverse group of friends, but I was more pleased to find out we have a couple of things in common - we're all great cooks and we LOVE to eat. And none of us know how to do things on a small scale, so we had enough food for an army. If any of this looks good to you, contact Nadine because I'm pretty sure she STILL has leftovers.













The doggies, of course, were very excited about Easter as well, because food and people in the house means snacks for them too. But Momma Denie has them very well trained and they know they have to wait outside until they get invited in. Bailey (left) was a little more patient than Ziggy, who barked the entire time.



Now I ask you, HOW do you resist that adorable little face?



Or that adorable big one?



Bailey is tall enough to see what's on the table. Luckily, he's pretty good about not stealing things....but we kept everything out of tongues reach just to be on the safe side.



Of course, if you're Sasha, you're only interested in beer. She's definitely Daddy's dog...



Special thanks to Bob and Natalie Adams, Chelsea Alexander, Aaron and Blake Danchik, and of course Nadine and John for not only being great cooks but excellent company as well! We shared a lot of laughs and got one HUGE surprise.

No, it wasn't the earthquake. We didn't even feel it, we just found out about it when my sister texted me from the East Coast checking to make sure I was OK.

The big surprise of the day was the news that the Kings CLINCHED A PLAY-OFF SPOT! That's right, we're going to the play-offs for the first time in 8 years!

Come to think of it, that must be what caused the earthquake....

Terrific Times Two!

My little buddy Jordan Hershberg turned two last week, and since I couldn't make his "official" birthday party because of a hockey game, I headed over to Pasadena for a visit to help him celebrate. His parents, Micah and Allison, are wonderful friends I don't see nearly often enough. And Jordan is just too much fun for words. He knows how to say "Aunt Meg" and it just melts my heart every time!



I also got to see his little brother Jeremy, who has grown up SO MUCH since my last visit. The last time I saw Jeremy he was just a few weeks old, and now he's kicking up a storm in his bouncy seat and having a great time checking out the world with those big blue eyes!





Now that Jordan is two, he can do so many things it's amazing! Sliding down the stairs with Mommy is a favorite activity.



And he's already a tremendous photographer. He even knows how to say "Cheese!"



But his favorite things in the world are books and music. His birthday theme this year is Curious George, so I found a card that combined the two. It not only had a pop-up monkey face on the front, it made monkey noises when the card was opened!





That kept him busy for a while, which made Mommy and Daddy very happy. They weren't even the least bit bothered by the noise!



Opening presents, on the other hand, requires a bit of help. Especially the way Aunt Meg wraps them, which Jordan told me was too tight. But he loved the Curious George books and toys inside!

If he's already doing so much at two, I can't even imagine what another year will hold. Happy Birthday Jordan!