"Rock the Red Tour" - Day 3 - The Big Game!

Finally, the moment we've been planning for since September and anticipating all weekend had arrived....GAME DAY!!!! After brunch with my friends Mike and Michelle, we headed over to Verizon Center to watch what turned into an epic battle between the Caps and Penguins. Mike is a Caps fan from way back, so he managed to snag a ticket as well, just couple of sections over from where we were sitting.

Mike also owns a collection of Caps gear, but chose to wear a jersey honoring the greatest work of hockey cinema ever...it's a replica of the one Bruce Boudreau wore in the movie "Slapshot." Love it!!



We made sure to allow plenty of time to check out the team store at Verizon, just in case they had something different and better from everything we already bought at the practice arena store. Nadine apparently needed to make sure she had enough Caps wardrobe for all 7 days of the week. We didn't end up adding anything to the collection this time around, but I was tempted to take this Alex Ovechkin Bobble-Head home with me....



I also loved that the section of the store devoted to game-used gear is called "The Locker Room." Marketing genius, people!



In my short time as a hockey fan, I have not experienced a game in any other building besides Staples Center, so this was a real eye-opener to what hockey should be like. The best word I can use to describe the feeling in Verizon Center today was electric! These fans are INSANE in the best possible way. They all shout "Red" in unison during the national anthem when the line "....and the rockets RED glare..." gets sung. They have a special 3rd period comeback video with everyone shouting the same chant at the end. The crowd was an absolute sea of red. And they let fans bring in SIGNS! Big, cool ones...so unlike the Staples Center 11x17 restricted size. "Rock the Red" t-shirts float down from the ceiling on little parachutes! It was easily the coolest hockey experience I've had in my life so far. Maybe why I look so happy!





And to say there was no love in the building for Nadine's hot tub buddy Sid Crosby is the understatement of the year. Here's a jersey someone was having customized for the game that pretty much says it all...



Unfortunately Sid The Kid got the best of AO this time, and Pens won in a shoot-out. He was also named Number 1 "Star of the Game." But the Caps gained a point and remain firmly in the lead in the Southeast Division, and 3rd in the Eastern Conference standings overall, so they're headed to the playoffs.

And my life as a hockey fan is forever marked by our epic journey...I think we need to plan another one!

"Rock the Red Tour" - Day 2 (Reunions)

As we started finalizing plans for this trip and realized we would have some spare time, I thought it would be fun to get together with some old friends. I went to college at James Madison University (JMU) which is about 2 hours outside DC. A number of old college buddies live in the DC area, and now that we're all on Facebook, it was easier than every to contact everyone and get a little happy hour/dinner together. We decided on Rock Bottom Brewery in Arlington, which was as central for most people as anything. Plus they have a beer called Blue Line Pale Ale...the logo on the bottle is a set of crossed hockey sticks! Nothing like keeping the theme of the weekend going.



Here's the crazy JMU Crew. Can you tell we had just a little fun? Nadine was a trooper and listened to all our old war stories from school years. Luckily most of the really unsavory ones about me didn't get shared. Thanks guys!







Since the restaurant is literally right next to the Capitals practice facility, the mall is full of Capitals stuff as well. So we had one last photo op in front of an over sized Caps jersey. A great way to end the day before the big game tomorrow....



But Nadine's day wasn't over yet. The pool was still open for a few hours after we got back to the hotel, so Nadine decided to go take a swim. It just so happens there is also a hot tub next to the pool. And who did she find in it......



No joke! Nadine sat in a hot tub, exchanging polite conversation with a half-naked Sidney Crosby. Did she call up to the room to tell me? NO! Did she bring him back to the room to meet her friend? NO! Did she get a photo for me? NO! (Which is why I had to rip this photo from the Internet). You know how she ended the conversation with him? By telling him, "It was nice talking to you, but you're going down tomorrow." Against the Caps, that is. Get your minds out of the gutter people!

"Rock the Red Tour" - Day 2 (Touristas)

After the Caps and Penguins practice sessions, we had some time to kill before happy hour and dinner with some friends of mine from JMU. So we met up with Michelle, my best friend from college, and after a quick change of clothes, we headed out to play tourist for a bit.

Nadine and I wanted to check out the World War II memorial since both of our dads served in that conflict, and it hadn't been built the last time either of us was in DC. It was a beautiful day, so we walked from the hotel to the National Mall. On the way to the WWII Memorial, we passed right by the White House. What a perfect chance to wave hello to our new President, and get a few pictures!

This is me and Michelle.



And I snagged a cute candid of Nadine working the shades.



The next stop was the World War II Memorial.











This relief sculpture reminds me so much of my Dad, who served on the flight crew of a B-52 bomber.



The most awe-inspiring feature of this memorial for me was a group of 4,000 gold stars that commemorate the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives. During WWII, the gold star was the symbol of family sacrifice. It was an amazing moment to pause and think about just how massive an undertaking that war effort was for this country, and how many lives it cost. Thank goodness my dad was one of the lucky ones that made it home.



We could see the Lincoln Memorial from the World War II Memorial, so we decided to walk the rest of the way down the mall and pay a visit to Uncle Abe.



And on the way back, we walked right past the Washington Monument.



Of course, not all interesting sights in Washington are made of marble....



Wow...that was a lot of walking! Time for a beverage!!

"Rock the Red Tour" - Day 2 (Practice Makes Perfect)

Day 2 of our tour started with a visit to the Caps practice arena, the Kettler Iceplex in Arlington, VA. It's a wonderful facility, with about twice the seating of the Toyota Center in LA, and an amazing gift shop! More on that to follow. First, it was time to watch Alex the Great get ready to face to Penguins.



While we were standing upstairs watching, a TV camera crew came over and wanted to talk to Nadine. Apparently they were filming a program for Swedish TV, featuring the Caps young star Nicklas Backstrom. I guess they saw blonde hair and blue eyes and figured Nadine would play well on Swedish TV. She gave big props to Nick, then they turned the camera on me, who hadn't been paying attention to all of the conversation! I wanted to talk about the Kings Swedish rookie Oscar Moller (who we love) but found some nice things to say about Nick and Swedish hockey players in general. They seemed happy! Crazy stuff like this always seems to happen when I'm around Nadine...now back to practice.



I was a little worried this week after reports that Ovie left practice with only one skate on after getting nailed in the heel by a shot. But he looked in fine form, so we're go for Sunday. I knew he wouldn't miss the chance to go a few rounds with Sid the Kid!





After practice, it was time for some retail therapy! I think Nadine bought one of just about everything in the store that said Capitals. I was a little more reserved, but I picked up a t-shirt, a hat, and an acrylic model of Ovie for my office...he and I can play a little game of hockey when I'm bored on conference calls!



So I check out, then Nadine steps up to the counter. I go outside to wait since it's a little crowded in the store. Ten minutes pass, then 15, then 20...and she's still in there! So I go in to figure out what's wrong, worried her credit card has been stolen or some other madness has broken out. And what do I see, but her with a handsome older man, having their picture taken by the store staff. Who is he....Alex Ovechkin's Dad! Yup, Pappa O!!! He loved her so much (probably since she was talking to him in Russian) he bought her the last Ovechkin pennant in the store...something for his Nadya. Seriously? How does she pull this crap off? The woman has hockey gods following her every move!!!

And then things really got crazy! We got word that the Penguins were on their way over from the airport to practice!!! OMG...Sid Crosby is coming within feet of me! So we stayed longer to see a little of the Pens practice session.

While we were waiting, I took a photo with a hilarious Ovie cutout in the store window, and Nadine caught up with Bruce Boudreau, the Caps coach! He was kind enough to pose for a photo.





And then, from across the parking lot, hockey's Prince Charming made his grand entrance....I almost fainted! THE ONE AND ONLY SIDNEY CROSBY!!!!!!





With the practice session of our dreams complete, we left to go meet my friend Michelle, who was also in town for the weekend and waiting for us at the hotel to go see some of DC. But before we left, the car person in me couldn't resist a shot of this.....



Gotta love a Lamborghini...especially one belonging to Caps defenseman Mike Green.

The hockey gods are indeed good!

"Rock the Red Tour" - Day 1

For months now, Nadine and I have been planning our inaugural girls hockey trip. Hard to believe it's finally time to start! This one takes us to Washington DC, home of the Washington Capitals and hockey god Alex Ovechkin. The Caps fans motto is "Rock the Red" in honor of the Caps colors, so this trip will hereby be named the "Rock the Red Tour." Or RTRT if you're an acronym junkie....

After an overtime Kings win, several hours of posting game videos, a quick shower and zero sleep, the journey to LAX began this morning. I left my house at 3 AM to get to Nadine's by 4, then her house to LAX by 5 for a 6:30 AM flight. We both needed a serious dose of caffeine by the time we arrived, and were then brave enough to get someone to take our first photo of the trip.



My expression says it all. I am NOT a morning person. But Denie, she looks like something out of the book she's currently reading - Pledged by Alexandra Robbins.

"The well dressed sorority girl wears ironed or starched jeans, Greek jewelry, the most "in" sunglasses, a pearl necklace, expensive leather tennis shoes or penny loafers, and Lauren perfume. If it's after hours, she's in a fraternity or hockey jersey and she's still wearing her pearls..." - from A Girls Guide to Sorority Success, 1985.

Interesting...if you look in the photo closely, she's got those damn pearls on!

A few hours later, we arrived in Chicago for a brief stopover and some lunch. We discovered the "Pizza Sandwich," checked out goofy souvenirs, and got ready for the final leg of travel to DC. I couldn't resist taking a photo of the monkey...purple made me think of the Kings! And we found a nice man to photo us at this stop too! I look SLIGHTLY more awake....just slightly....







After an on-time departure from Chicago, we were off to Washington. The first flight was crowded, but the guy sitting in the seat between us was nice and slept most of the way. The Chicago flight...completely full. And this time, our middle seat partner was "The Bag Lady." Let's just say she had more than 2 carry-on items, and nothing was in actual luggage. After watching her trying to stuff a half-ripped brown shopping bag under her seat, she pulled out a plastic bag containing a salad...and proceeded to open it...before takeoff! Nadine shot me a look that basically said, "If I end up wearing that salad, this woman is dead and you're going to help me kill her." Luckily the salad situation stayed in control and we all arrived in DC in one piece. The brown bag even lived.

So we got off the plane in DC, and like a good omen, the first thing we saw was the flag of our "adopted" motherland...Oh, Canada!! The perfect welcome for a hockey trip!





Then the comedy of errors began, stretching between the Dulles Airport baggage claim to our arrival at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown DC.

• Nadine's luggage arrived, but with the handle broken off. All the tags were completely gone (due to the broken handle) so we had to open it to make sure it was hers. Did Southwest offer to repair the bag...uh-uh. Blamed the TSA. So if the TSA in DC was the problem, how did the bag get routed to DC with a transfer in Chicago? Ponder that!
  
• Hertz gave two insurance adjusters a scratched up rental car! We got some looks in the Hertz lot while we were inspecting the car before taking it out...who do these people think they're messing with?
  
• We hit our first toll booth on the Dulles access road, and discovered what I thought was an EZ-Pass was actually an un-EZ-Pass. So after blocking the wrong toll lane and getting honked at, we drove through. Sure Hertz will get a letter on that one!
  
• Driving down F street looking for the hotel, we were hit by Asian bicyclist who didn't seem to have enough room between the right side of my car and curb to get by. So he decided to just bounce against my car and the truck in front of me. What!?!
  
• When we finally found the hotel, we checked in, but were given the key to someone elses room. Luckily we only saw luggage when we opened the door and not anyone naked (which actually happened to my friend Steve once...)! The valet thought our room number looked wrong, but the front desk guy didn't?
  

So after a quick change of clothes, we headed out to find some food, and get our first look at the Caps home ice arena, the Verizon Center. Incidentally, it's a block away from our hotel. How lucky are we?



And with the first days adventure done, jet-lagged and exhausted, we laughed ourselves silly recounting the events of the day until we fell into bed. DC...we have arrived! Caps....here we come! Time to Rock the Red!!!!!

Joy, Pain and Many Hockey Pucks

Tonight's Kings game marked the end of an era...my first game without Sully. Got the news yesterday he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for some dude I know nothing about, then traded by Carolina to the Edmonton Oilers for another dude I know nothing about that Carolina apparently wanted back on their team. In the final analysis, it only means one thing to me - no more #12.

Now I know that these things happen all the time, because at the heart of things, hockey is a business. But somehow it feels kind of like losing my first love. Tonight was supposed to be Sully's "Lucky Jersey Contest" night, but I cried just looking at #12 hanging in my closet and couldn't bear to bring it out. So I put on my all-black 3rd jersey and went to the game in mourning. One of my favorite ushers, Luis gave me a big hug, and I felt a little better. Then the Kings played a terrific nail-biter, beating Dallas in OT 5-4. Drew got 2 assists, which made it MUCH better! OK, maybe I can do this after all.

Thanks to the Kings Care Foundation, I was able to honor my Sully with one final tribute. They had the game puck from his 7th goal this season up for bids, and I got it.







Tonight was a big night for pucks in another way too - the first time I got hit by one! I was sitting in the section next to Denie's and my regular seats in the first row behind the glass. A puck caught the top of the glass, then bounced off me into the photographers pit. Saw it coming, just couldn't get my hands up in time to catch it! The photographer that fished it out of the pit saw me, then we both saw this cute little hockey kid coming down the aisle looking for the puck. I gave the photog a look, and he gave the kid the puck. He needed it more than me.

I also picked up a Drew puck in the Kings Care bidding (a bit of a shopping spree, but I just couldn't resist!).



And the Kings have been doing a collector puck series this season, so I added Alexander Frolov to my collection.



So the "Lucky Jersey Contest" is now officially over with Sully away, and I'll be wearing my #8 every game. At least until Edmonton comes back to play the Kings, and #12 returns to the ice. Then I'll be cheering for him to score. And I'll probably cry....

Oh, The Places You'll Go

It began one fine day with a card in the mail
A big celebration! Fun will prevail!
For a sweet little boy with a smile like the sun
Is having a party...because he's now one!



His beautiful mother had planned all month long
For this festive occasion...right down to the songs!
All the right decorations, in beautiful hues
And oodles of photos...for this was big news!





We ate lunch in the sunshine and chatted away
Then the time came for cake and we gathered to say
"Happy Birthday, Dear Jordan!"... our voices in song
And captured in video...so please sing along!





Then the time had arrived for his first taste of cake
But the sweet little boy...not one bite did he make!
All the people and cameras were just too much to take!



But it ended with smiles for all who looked on
For Jordan's too happy to stay crying long!



With Mommy and Daddy beside him, he posed
For his first birthday portrait..we need one of those!





And so now it's official, we're all in the know
Jordan is one and continues to grow!
But the story keeps going each day, and I'm so
So excited to see all the places he'll go!