HERE I AM TOO NERVOUS TO SIT AGAIN!

Here we go again - Game 6 Rangers v. Canadiens, 1-0 at the end of the 2nd period.  Same game plan - Rangers will try to eliminate Canadiens and the Habs will "pull the rabbit out of the hat" to win tonight and force Game 7.
It is now half way thru the 3rd period, still 1-0 Rangers.
Question - will it hurt more if Habs lost in Game 7? 
It is a beautiful day today and no rain as predicted.  There is a Farmers' Market every Thursday and it is around the corner of my office building - how convenient!  I went last week so I decided just go straight home today.
We will have a Retirement Party for a secretary tomorrow.  She has been with the Firm for 14 years and have been in the workforce for 51 years.  When someone asked her today what would her advice be about working, she said, "Don't work too long, make sure you enjoy your life and not wait until you retire."  That is what I have been doing - our annual road trips, see the world and live life to the fullest.  How do plan to enjoy your life?

I AM TOO NERVOUS TO SIT DOWN

You probably wonder why I am blogging instead of watching Game 5 of the New York Rangers v. the Montreal Canadiens.  The Rangers is looking to eliminate the Habs while the Habs is fighting to force a Game 6.  Perhaps you won’t see this post until much later because it is not like you are anxiously waiting for my witty comments and cheesy photos!

I am just nervous to be just watching the game.  It has been a crazy game indeed.  The score was 2-1 Habs in the 1^st period, then within 10 minutes into the 2^nd period, it was 4-2 Habs.  Rangers came back tied at 4-4 but Habs fought back – 5-4 at the end of the 2^nd period.

Bourque got his hat-trick in the 3^rd period and now Habs is leading 6-4.  But I am just too nervous to watch, especially when Rangers got on the power play.

Less than 4 minutes left in the 3^rd period – Habs is up 7-4 over the Rangers.  There will be Game 6 – I am so torn between the Rangers my American hometown team and wanting the Cup to go back to Canada, at least this year since my Beloved Red Wings are already eliminated!      

BENJAMIN AND BENJAMIN

Benjamin found his long-lost twin when we were at an estate sale last Sunday.  It was so comical when my husband and I both yelled out, "Look!  Benjamin's long-lost twin" - (not really loud but enough for those around us to hear).  So we had to explain our (strange) excitement upon seeing a smiling yellow beanie baby.
Even though they are identical twin, we could tell which one is Benjamin NYC and which is Benjamin STL.  NYC has longer "hair" and leans backward, unable to sit up due to "an accident" (being dropped while TOTA was walking across a five-lane road - at Manchester and Ries).
STL has shorter hair and still has the same pose for when he used to play hockey for the Boston Bruins.
Talk about the Bruins - I am still stunned that the Bruins lost game 6 last night.  I did not really care whether the Hawks or the Bruins won the Cup.  As a hockey fanatic, I could not believe that the Bruins, leading the entire game, yet could not hold on - how long is 1 minute and 26 seconds?  It is less than a minor (2-minute) penalty.  The Hawks scored 2 goals within 17 seconds in the 3rd period and won the Cup because the Bruins fell apart!
My husband suggested that we get a cake to celebrate both Benjamin NYC and STL "unofficial" birthday and also the Hawks winning the Stanley Cup.  I think Ralphie just wanted to eat cake!

HOW DO YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART?

I woke up this morning, got out of bed, even though every ounce of what little energy I had in my body told me to just hide under the cover and stay there until the start of next hockey season!  My beloved Red Wings was eliminated last night in overtime of Game 7 against the Blackhawks.  My husband tried to comfort me saying that the Wings put up a good fight.  Well, that did not make my broken heart feel any better.

I bought flowers and a bag of potting soil yesterday.  I spent the morning planting flowers.  I washed the patio furniture.  I dusted and vacuumed the house, washed and put away two loads of clothes, as I tried to keep busy, but the tears would not stop flowing!!! 

 After the Wings eliminated the Ducks and advanced to Round 2 facing the Blackhawks, I thought the Wings might be swept since the Hawks is the #1 seed (and the Hawks also won all the games during regular season).  The Hawks won the 1st game but the Wings came back and won the next three games.  All the sudden, instead of the nightmare of the Wings being swept, I dreamed of watching "Da Captain" Zetterberg raised the cup, paraded around the ice as the 2013 Stanley Cup champion.    

Well, I never learned my lesson for putting too much hope into something as unpredictable as winning three hockey games in the best of 7 playoffs series.  The Hawks came back, forced Game 7 and eliminated the Wings, once and for all, shattered my short-lived dream.  It was a sunny, comfortable and beautiful day in St. Louis, but how do you mend a broken heart of this Red Wings fan?

HAPPY LIKE TOTA DURING NHL PLAYOFFS

 How do you measure happiness?  Just like in the commercial asking how happy the customer is when saving money after switching insurance company - as happy as TOTA during NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Regular readers notice that I have not mentioned as much about my beloved Detroit Red Wings after the lockout ended.  I was occupied with school plus disappointed with the Wings not playing at expected level at the beginning of the "season" and the last few weeks, I could not sleep or eat (just kidding) worrying because there was a possibility that the Wings might not get into the Playoffs. 

After dropping to 10th place, then struggling just to stay alive in the last playoffs spot, I am pleased to report that the Wings climbed up to 7th place (still embarrassing compared to previous years when they would be the first team to clinch playoffs spot).  Playoffs (Round 1) start tonight with the Wings against Anaheim Ducks so I might not be able to stay up late (puck drops at 7:30 p.m. in California but that will be 10:30 p.m. St. Louis time).  Other interesting match-ups - Toronto v. Boston; Montreal v. Ottawa; Rangers v. Capitals; and St. Louis v. LA Kings.  I finally got my wish - all Original Six teams are in the Playoffs, (Blackhawks v.Wild) including Maple Leafs after so many years of missing the fun!

Today is April 30th - 38 years after the Fall of Sai Gon in 1975.  The day when the Viet Nam war was supposedly ended but a different kind of war began for the Vietnamese people, my family included, living under Communist controlled government.  We escaped by boat in 1979, survived the journey and the refugee camp and began a new life in American (New York City) on January 10, 1980.  I am reminded of how blessed we are to be living in America and grateful for the freedom and liberty we have enjoyed.  God Bless America and those who have served this great nation.

STOPUCKS (OH CANADA)

How appropriate that I spotted this "STOPUCKS" license plate in the parking lot across the ice rink.  Of course, where else would someone from Canada, most likely a hockey fanatic like me, be but at a hockey game.  In 2007, I was able to cross off "Visit Hockey Hall of Fame" on my Bucket List.  I had a great time there.  I would have spent the entire day at the Hall if my husband did not "drag" me out of the building!  The gift shop did not have as many Original Six items as I expected.  I had fun participating in the interactive games.  I put on the goalie mask (it was heavy and uncomfortable) trying to stop shots from Mark Messier - I stopped one out of the 10 shots, not too bad, eh?  I did better with shooting against Eddie Belfour - I scored three goals and each time my husband would yell "She scores" - we sure had a great time.  My next item on the Bucket List would be to see the Habs in Montreal (had to be the Original Six game), then take the train to Toronto to see the Leafs, again has to be an Original Six game - I hope to reach this goal before my 70th birthday!!!!!     

HAPPY DAYS WERE HERE BUT HERE COMES THE RE-ALIGNMENT

I started this post on January 9th writing about how happy I was that the NHL lockout was over.  I also wrote about the Superbowl and my beloved New England Patriots being in the playoffs.  (Of course I was crushed when the Ravens eliminated the Patriots.  But I did not mind that the Ravens beat the 49ers to win the Superbowl.  I heard Kaepernick would have added a new tattoo of the Lombardi trophy should the 49ers won - haa haa.)

The next day, January 10th, I planned to write about the 33rd anniversary of my family coming to America, all the funny stories happened in the refugee camp and when we were "fresh off the boat" at JFK airport, our struggle learning the new language, adapting the New York style of living and assimilating into the American culture, going to school, working, paying taxes and becoming productive citizens.

A series of events took place that made my celebration of the end of the NHL lockout and the Superbowl became small and meaningless.  Just like a balloon running out of air, I could not and did not know how to continue blogging, believe it or not, I did not even go the games when my beloved Red Wings came to St. Louis on Jan. 19th and then again on Feb. 7th.   
This week the new realignment was made officially with the changes go into effect at the start of the 2013-2014 league season.  The biggest change in the realignment, wouldn't you know it, had to be that my beloved Red Wings and (I don't really care about Columbus Blue Jackets) are moving to the Eastern Conference while the Winnipeg Jets are moving to the Western Conference.  The Western Conference has five Original Six teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and my Red Wings while the only Original Six team left skating in the Eastern Conference is my American hometown the New York Rangers.  So what does it all mean to a hockey fanatic like me?  Starting with the 2013-2014 season, my beloved Red Wings will come to St. Louis every other year.  There is a Vietnamese expression that for each day you don't see your "love" equals three long seasons, so how long it would be if you don't see your "love" in three years?

STILL UPSIDE DOWN (HOW DO YOU STOP THE FEELINGS?)

Regular readers (I don't know if I still have any faithful readers and forget about adoring fans - haa haa) know the main reason I have not been posting regularly because I am occupied with watching NHL playoffs games.  Playing Scrabbles is another reason.  My highest score is 468 points and my best word is "waxy" (I don't even know what it means!).    

In previous post, I was not clear with my comments about the new look of my silly blog.  I should have written that the new admin console caused much confusion when I first login.  I have gotten used to it but I still prefer the old format.  Blogger should know that you can't teach an old dog new tricks!  Ok, let's get back to hockey.  My world is still upside down because the Rangers are the only Original Six team still standing.  Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs never made it to the Playoffs.  My beloved Red Wings were eliminated (it's still painful writing about this) and both the Bruins and the Blackhawks did not make it to Round 2.

It has been a very strange 1st Series.  No one expected teams such as the Penguins and the #1 seed Canucks performed (uncharacteriscally) poorly.  I saw the above vanity plate at the Blues parking lot, how appropriate!  Too bad, the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie could not do exactly what he needed to do, "STOPUCKS"!     

ATOT - MY WORLD HAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN!

My world has turned upside down in more than one way, beginning with this silly boring blog.  I got a big surprise when I logged in a few days ago and found this new look.  Did I ask for this fancy layout?  Did I accidentally click the button where the message "Click here to update your blog to a new look" was?  There might have been another message about the new look in April.  I thought if I continued to ignore it, my blog would still maintain the classic look, the one I am used to and comfortable with the last 6 years.  Well, I did not have any choice.  Someone at Blogger would not let me stay behind.  Does anyone know how to switch back to the "good old look"?  

Yes, you heard it right, my beloved Detroit Red Wings were eliminated from the playoffs by the Nashville Predators in game #5 last night.  The Wings only won the 2nd game and had been struggling since.  I could not stand the pains and had to shut off the television at five minutes left in the third period.  The television has not been turned on today and I did not even look at the NHL website.  (Normally I would check for update at least three times a day, first thing in the morning, during lunch, after I get home and before going to bed.)  My mind could not comprehend that the Wings are the first team to be eliminated.  It is terribly wrong and unnatural.  What would I be spending my time and energy on after a hard day of work?  Perhaps I could start watching the Food Channel and learn how to be a good cook - NOT!!!!!! 

HERE WE GO! (IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!)

According to my book, this is the most wonderful time of the year - the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs started on Wednesday, April 11th. There are many great match-ups such as the Blues v. Sharks or the Caps v. Bruins. No home ice advantage for my beloved Red Wings being #5 seed, currently tied the series at 1-1 against the Predators #4. (It still does not sound right for Nashville to have a strong hockey team. Isn't the town supposed to be only about country music?) Already there are surprises with the Kings #8 leading the series 2-0 against the Canucks being #1 while the Flyers #5 won the first two games against the Pens #4 - that just goes to show that sometimes home ice does not guarantee winning.

These photos were taken at the April 4th game. Traffic was not too bad so we got to the arena early enough for me to take a few photos during warm-up. The last time the Wings were in town was at the November 2011 game. It was good seeing the "boys" again. Everyone is healthy, ready for the playoffs. The Wings played at the level expected but they still weak on power plays. No scoring the first 2 periods. In the third period, the Wings got a 2-man advantage but were sloppy and allowed a short-handed goal. I love short-handed goals but not when against my beloved Red Wings. When the Blues scored the 2nd goal three minutes later, I was furious and we walked out of the arena.

Well, three minutes after we left, Franzen scored, then tied the game with his 2nd goal of the night. Bertuzzi scored the winning goal at shootout. (My sincere apology to the "boys" for walking out on them and for not having faith that they would come back and win the game. My husband kept saying to me, "Oh ye lil faith!". We thought the Blues would win the President's Trophy for having the most points in the league. I even tried to get tickets for the last home game since it is Fans Appreciation Day and there would be many giveaways that included round trip airline tickets and iPad. We did not get the tickets because the game was scheduled on April 6th - Good Friday. When it comes to faith v. hockey, I know my priority!

LIFE IS VERY GOOD - TOTA IS VERY HAPPY

Have you heard? My beloved Detroit Red Wings set the new NHL record with 23 straight win at home (Joe Louis Arena in Detroit). The Wings broke the record of 22nd straight win by the Boston Bruins in 1929-30 season. To make it even better is the victory 3-2 against the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks eliminated the Wings from 2nd round in the last two playoffs, so to get the winning record in a game against the Sharks would be "extra icing" on the cake!

How about the beautiful goal by Datsyuk with only 5 seconds left in regulation in the game against the Predators on Tuesday night? You got to love that kid with his dazzling move, carrying the puck like as if it was on a string and shooting into the net where no one thought would be possible.

Let's not forget Franzen "the Mule", hard at work as ever. Next game is Tuesday, Feb. 21st in Chicago against the Blackhawks then back to Joe Louis Arena on Thursday, Feb. 23rd against the Canucks. This is almost as exciting as the playoffs because this kind of winning record only happens every 8 decades. Anyone says otherwise would be "unsportmanship"!

TWO NEW YORK RANGERS

Well, look closely you will see there are two New York Rangers goalies in the above photo. That was Henrik Lindqvist in the front but I forgot who the other goalie was since this photo was taken when the Rangers visited St. Louis in 2009. I don't have any photos from the 2012 Winter Classic on Monday, January 2nd between my American hometown New York Rangers vs. the Philadelphia Flyers, so these photos would have to do. The Rangers won 3-2 after trailing 0-2 in the 2nd period. Life is good and I am very happy!

The title for the above photo would be "Two Flyers and a Blues", also taken from when the Flyers visited St. Louis in 2009. That was when I had a few extra dollars burning in my pocket and decided to get the 10-game pack. I am proud to say that all the games that I selected, all 10 teams plus St. Louis Blues got into the playoffs that year (well, the Blues got eliminated after the 1st round). (Breaking News: I am excited that the 2013 Winter Classic could be held at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and my beloved Detroit Red Wings would be the hosting team for the game. Life is really good and I am really happy!)

TUESDAY TWO - HAWKS AND WINGS

These photos were from last year when we attended a Chicago Blackhawks v. Detroit Red Wings game on December 17th at United Center in Chicago. The Red Wings lost 1-4. The tickets were an early Christmas present from my husband. A year later, I still have not accomplished my goals to attend the Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens homegames. (I have been to the other three of the Original Six - New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.) There have been major setbacks and my piggybank is currently empty, so I just have to try again in 2012. Hopefully the sky won't come crashing down anytime soon!

Most of the Blackhawks fans in our section were rowdy but typical behaviors of being hockey fanatics. (Please note that I am not saying that all Blackhawks nor hockey fans were bad people.) It just happened that two individuals in the row behind us were spilling out "really stinky vocabulary". After 5 minutes of listening to the loud, almost screaming foul language, my husband turned around and said, "I am asking you to tone down your language. Maybe you are not aware that there are a couple of kids in the row in front of us. So please watch your language." What shocked me was a female voice and her comment, "This is hockey - the kids need to learn real life lessons." Only then, the father of the kids, a boy and a girl about 8-10 years old, turned around and tell these rowdy fans, "Shut your mouth or I will call security." The father then turned and thanked my husband. I questioned why the father waited until my husband, a stranger, stepped up before he being the father should have spoken up first being that those were his kids. The rowdy people quiet down and either they were removed by security or whatever happened, they never came back when the 2nd peirod started. The arena was loud and lived up to its name "the Mad House" but we had a great time, except a victory by the Wings!

DA WINGS IN ST. LOUIS

We went to the first match-up game of the 2011-2012 season between St. Louis Blues v. my beloved Detroit Red Wings. It was Tuesday (November 15th) evening so we did not get to the arena until after work. The City Hall parking lot (across from the arena) was full when we got there. We had to wait for the attendant to remove the barricade to open up more parking space. We missed the warming up, not that I did not already take enough photos of "the guys" from previous games.

I knew it was early in the season and there are many changes in the line-up with "old guys" being replaced by the "new kids", but the Wings' power plays were terrible. In the first period, the Wings could not score even when the Blues got a 5-minute penalty for personal misconduct (late hit from behind). Second period was not any better, the Wings passing was lousy and so many turnovers in the neutral zone. Even when #5, 13, 40, and 93 were on the ice, there was no scoring! The Blues had more shot-on-goal than the Wings in the third period. The Blues won 2-1 .

Watching the Wings skating around the rink (they sure did not play hockey the way I expected - blaah), the players looked like they already ate too much Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing. I am glad we did not spend our hard-earned money on the tickets. Last year we purchased club seats that included food/drink and a hockey stick to be autographed by the Blues players after the game. This year we just bought "cheap" tickets. Actually the seats are center-ice and just right below the suites level. Or I finally reached a point in my life with an attitude, "been there done that" - how much food could I eat or how many more autograph sticks do I really need?

Next game is again on Tuesday, December 6th. I just hope the guys don't play like as if they were stuffed with cookies and milk!

THE DAY AFTER GAME 7

Congratulations to the Boston Bruins on capturing the 2011 Stanley Cup championships. The Bruins played well and really dominated the series. I did not make any predictions or sharing which team I cheered for because I did not want to jinx the Canucks. Well, that did not make any difference. Not being Canadian, yet I was greatly disappointed that the Canucks could not bring Lord Stanley home. I love the Original Six but I would prefer the Canucks winning the finals over the Bruins.

It was painful to watch Game 7 last night (Wednesday, June 15th). Actually I had to be at the Board of Adjustment meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. (that was when the game started). I told the chairwoman that knowing that we needed five commissioners for voting, I gave up watching the 1st period of the game. I was promised a medal for commitment to civic duty! As soon as the voting was done, I said, "I had to be rude and get out of here. See you all next time." Usually we would hang around talking after the meeting but not when it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

I lost all hope when the Canucks allowed the shorthanded goal late in the 2nd period. I watched the traditional handshakes (one more reason why I love hockey - whether the players are forced to shakehand, it is still a great symbol of sportmanship) and the MVP and Stanley Cup presentation. I am still asking the questions most of hockey fans are trying to find the answers, "What happened to the Canucks? How could #22 and #33 and Luongo and the Canucks fell apart so badly?" I will tell Henrik Sedin, next time, go ahead and touch the President's Trophy already! Well, only 100+ more days before the next hockey season starts. I guest I could spend my spare time learning how to cook and improve on my house-keeping skills - NOT!!!!!!

LIFE IS GOOD - WINGS SWEPT COYOTES

Have you heard? My beloved Detroit Red Wings swept the Phoenix Coyotes (Wednesday, April 20th) in the 1st series of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. {For the benefits of Qaptain Qwerty and those hockey challenge readers - a sweep is when the better team (my Red Wings) won the first 4 games in the best of 7 series.}
I promised not to make any predictions but I am really worry about the Canucks (#1 seed in the Western Conference) because they are falling apart playing against the Blackhawks. In trouble are also my American hometown team, the New York Rangers losing to the Washington Capitals and my Canadian Cousin the Montreal Canadiens not doing so well against the Boston Bruins.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL - NHL 2011 PLAYOFFS

The 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs began on Wednesday, April 13th. Those who are regular readers and of course, my faithful followers, know that I might be "awol" for awhile. How long will I be absent from blogging will depend on how far my beloved Detroit Red Wings advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I will try to post regularly but probably with lot of cheesy photos and very few worthy notes! I won't make any predictions because I don't want anyone to blame me for jinxing their teams. However, I will share my thoughts after the series ended. Let the good times roll! I plan to enjoy every second of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Life is good :)