The Feminist in McPhizzle

A message to Sarah Palin from the Young Girls of America

Whoever you're planning to vote for, please become educated! and Please vote!!!

Weekend Updates

Spent the weekend scrapbooking and relaxing with my Doodle and 'lil man while her hubby was duck hunting and McMan was finishing up his tour of Western Canada. Got almost all of the DisneyWorld 2007 scrapbook done! YESSS!!!

Ams did well last night... Can't say the same for Friday, but it was the end of a long road trip.

McMan is home!!!

After work tomorrow, I'll stop by my place to get the blueberry pie I just baked on the way to Ma's for Thanksgiving(CAN) dinner!!! I'm so stoked. I'm contemplating skipping lunch. Ma's invited some boys whose billets aren't celebrating.. Should be interesting.

Sharkies won again tonight. 1-0. Boucher in goal - nice to see the former American doing well and getting some ice time in the shadow of Nabby. 15th career shut-out for Mr. Brian Boucher.

THIS little nugget made me giggle... I try to keep my political views private, but since so many people are assuming I'm a Palin fan because we're both former Miss America Organization participants, I have to say, there's no way I want my Vice President dropping the puck and waving to the crowd like she should have something sparkly on her head or saying that her favorite theme of a pageant was "Amer-I Can!".

Don't go in the water....

There seem to be some Sharks circling! That's right, ladies and germs, the NHL Regular Season has begun for us fans of the finned and I'm ready to dive back in! Well, at least put my feet in the shallow end.

A lot has changed over the summer for the NoCal team - A new coach and lots of different faces in the dressing room.

08-09 Season... My quick thoughts as I'm watching the game:

New Coach - I wasn't down on RW, but shaking things up behind the bench might be what gets them past the second round of the playoffs - but they need to make the playoffs first. He's been described as a good bench-coach, I can roll with that, hopefully the players can, too.

Revamped D - Gone are Campbell (no surprise), Carle, Rivet and Brown. Shiny and new are Blake (Will take a while to get used to that one), Boyle and Lukowich. If the D meshes well together, they'll make things even easier for Nabby, who we all know I have a love/hate relationship with. If they can put up a few points, I'll be a very happy fishie fan (Plus, who wouldn't love a kid with a nickname like Pickles?!). Also, would like to send my best wishes to Kyle McLaren in the AHL - I've always been a big fan of his.

Forwards - Familiar faces Thornton, Marleau and Cheechoo need to put up consistant points. I have every faith in each of them that they can - and every hope that they will. Please? Pretty please? Setoguchi looks good - like he spent the summer waiting trying to impress a girl at the gym - and it worked! Pavelski, Plihal, Michalek, Clowe and Goc are sure to do their fair share and Jeremy Roenick is going into his 21st season - how stinkin' impressive is that!?!?! Ok, ok, I know not everyone is a JR fan, but I have been for as long as I can remember - and the fact that he's spent the last two years of his career (for real this time?) with my team pretty much thrills me to no end. He looks good, too and is super hungry for the cup... will that be enough? ...my pretty please just worked, 0-1 Cheechoo from Boyle (Welcome!) and Michalek... PS. Get well soon, Mitchell!

My prediction: I know it sounds cliche, but if this team gels in a speedy fashion, it's hard to imagine they wouldn't be back in the race for the Pacific Division title, but it wont be easy. The Ducks and the Stars are a perpetual poachers looking for some shark fin soup. 0-2 PP Goal - Cheechoo from Thornton and Blake - ok, it's getting easier to read that name in teal. Sorry, Finny! As for playoffs, ever the optimist, I'm dreaming of being able to watch the 3rd ground without a scowl on my face, wondering who to cheer for while the hostess calls for "Bitter, Party of One?"

If the first two periods of this game are any indication of how the rest of the season is going to go, this could be the season we've all been dreaming of.... I'm not saying, I'm just saying...

Hockey season?!

I'll update on the Ams and Sharkies as soon as I don't want to punch myself in the face with a flaming blocker.

It's really annoying how much I miss McMan as he is on his Eastern Swing adventure, taking in more hockey in 11 days than should be allowed in October. Especially without one's smokin' hot g/f... Who happens to have a Bestie in Saskatoon who she hasn't seen in approximately 5 years.

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

Hammer has Inspired me...

I'm not gonna lie, before this weekend I had thought of blogging, but hadn't done it. Mostly because I was busy with my cousin's wedding last weekend (free wine - don't abuse the system - you will end up leaving the 2 bottles of wine that you ingested on someone's driveway - and I don't mean in the bottles.....), had to get Casa McP ready for the Mafia's visit this weekend, prepare for McMan's birthday (yesterday) and tend to my aching knee - which apparently has decided to to TU right before hockey season and the big gear-up for our huge evaluation at work. Joy of joys.

HOWEVER - In having Hammer and VonHammer here the past two nights and hearing of Hammers tales of blogging buddies, comment-fests and posts galore, I am re-energized.

Quick updates:
* My knee effing hurts. The Toyota center needs to invest in some hand rails so getting up and down the stairs can be done safely and with less pain to those joint-ily challenged like me. Or they need to allow flying monkies to enter the building - stupid no pets rules...

* I heart my goalie. I heart that my goalie is going to Nashville for camp. I, however, do not heart that we'll be without him for a time, leaving me with little confidence in who will be here in his stead. I know not everyone can be Chet Pickard... but at least when Carey was away, we had Chetter to fall back on.

* I need to get my Dish fixed. Damnit.

* *NSYNC's "Pop" came on the stereo in Hammer's car this night as we were leaving the rink. I can neither confirm nor deny that I almost put a McP-shaped hole in the roof of her car and squeeled like a ... well, let's face it, like a 19 year-old McP. I miss them. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who still listens to them on a regular basis.... or plays their songs on the piano when she's feeling low and/or blue.... I mean, I'm just sayin...

* Hammer's comment on the mix cd I have playing right now, "This CD is filled with songs I had forgotten existed."

* The shoe check we witnessed tonight was flinking amazing.

* It's HOCKEY SEASON, BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update!

*Miss Roomie was named 1st Runner up in the state pageant and will be traveling to Hoopston, IL for the national Sweetheart Pageant! YAY! I'm so proud of you!!!!!!

*McMan's surgery went well last week and he's home and off of the pain meds - still is in a relatively large amount of pain, but as long as he keep it elevated and stays hyrated, we're good to go.

*Starting to get minorly excited about hockey season... it's been a LOOOOONNNGGG spring/summer.

*Thinking of going back to the more auburn-side of brunette... I miss being "that redhead"

*Singing the Anthems tomorrow at the Little League Tourney in the big Wick. Hopefully my voice holds out... I'm starting to lose the "i'm NOT getting sick" battle

AAAND on a happier note...

After chatting with Hammer a bit tonight, I feel much better about cracking under the pressure of Fred the GD Tumor tonight. Especially after realizing that even Cindy Crosby the Human cracks from time to time... even though, as Hammer pointed out, he copes by extreme amounts of exercise and i cope by eating too much teriyaki and drinking copious amounts of splenda-sweetened iced tea.

Without further ado, I give you the "Quotes of the Night" from the 2nd Annual Maple Leaf Mafia Canada Day Celebration.

Quotes from the NHL Monopoly pre-party:

"It's the Ryan Getzlaf House of Hairy Teeth and Balding" - Hammer re: Anaheim

"He looks like Bob the Builder!" - McP
"I fucking love it." - Hammer
re: Drayson Bowman in the Yellow Hard Hat

"It's the no juice juice." - Hammer re: KoolAid

"No one else likes playing Monopoly because they're sucky suckholes." - Hammer

Quotes from the Party:

"Put that wang away!" - SlutBucket

"Guess we're going to Dairy Queen." - SlutBucket re: Hammer forgetting about the grill

"I took her under my stinky armpit years ago." - Hammer re: Glitter being one of her former students.

"We almost had to stay in the Dalles!" - The Lumberjack on the commute from Portland to the party

"Did you take the wrapper off?" - everyone
"Ok, it's officially funny." - VonHammer re:Canadian Pride tattoos.

"WHO SHIT?!?!?!" - Hammer Re: Pims and Jake leaving presents upstairs

"Fuck off with the CanadArm!" - Hammer during the Great Canadian Board Game

"We didn't even have alcohol at that party. It was just funny!" - Hammer re: 'it rhymes with muffalo!"

"Two words, it rhymes with Paint Johns." - Hammer

"Fuck off! ... neh... I don't owe you anything!" - VonHammer re: helping the Lunberjack win the game

"My favorite people are here with no underware." - Hammer re: the dogs and McP

"Schon of a Bitcsch." - Hammer & McP doing their best Bryan Murray

"WHO shit in my kitchen!?" - Hammer

"PIMS! That's MY snow cone! Now it has dog slobber in it! You're lucky I'm drunk and don't care!" - Hammer

"Did you have a nice shit on my floor?" - Hammer to the dogs

"I'm not sure..." - SlutBucket
"Oh come on, it's the internet, what could go wrong?!" - Hammer

Summer effing Vacation

I'm angry, I'm sad, I'm worried, I'm hopeful... I'm tired.

I hate hiding my feelings, but I'm trying to be really strong for McMan. Keeping a happy, cheerful face, while still being mindful and considerate of plans and things changing because of his tumor. I've grinned through all the jokes him and his friends make, coping with it, but I just want to hit them all. This isn't like his gallbladder, or his appendix. it's a TUMOR next to his BONE.

He's tired, he's frustrated, he's scared, even if he doesn't admit it to anyone but me. He's more than entitled to that... But I am too. And I'm sick of putting on the happy face about it. I fucking hate this damn tumor.

He's going over to Seattle on Monday with his mom to see the Dr. over there about treatments. My guess is they'll say, "ok, that's what it is, we're taking it out this afternoon/tomorrow."

I'm not even asking to go even though I'm going to be useless at work. I had to practically get into a fight with him to let me take him to the hospital in March and he wouldn't even let me stay until they took him in to prep him.

He's not sure now if he wants to take our trip this weekend for the holiday. I completely understand since it'll be 1o hours in the car round trip only to turn around and spend another 3.5 to Seattle on Monday.

I want to cry, but that doesn't seem very hopeful, does it? I want to scream and punch things, but that's not attractive or productive. I want to be with him right now instead of alone in my apartment, but I do wake up at an ungodly hour, and he needs his rest, especially if he's having surgery next week.

I effing hate being a big kid.

100th Post is a good one - My Miss Roomie!

Miss [Roomie] has a story she wants to tell
By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

Look behind the tiara and the sash, behind the perfect blond hair, the megawatt smile and the trademark wave, and there's a story.

For Miss [Roomie], the story began at the age of 12 when her mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Being on the cusp of adolescence, she thought that would be the end of the story, that a diagnosis meant the same as a cure. She didn't understand it was only the start of a long struggle she and her mother would share.

"We went through the rollercoaster together," [Roomie] said. "My mom is now managing her illness. One of the hardest decisions a person can face is continuing treatment. ... My mother finally reached the point that she realized long-term treatment is important."

More than a decade later, [Roomie]'s story still is being written as she prepares to compete in the Miss Washington program in Tacoma on July 11 and 12. She hopes to go on to Miss America in 2009.

[Roomie]in turn has become a storyteller, using her position as Miss [Roomie] to raise awareness about the realities of mental illness.

"She's been extremely outgoing and she never turns down an opportunity to teach people mental health awareness," said Melody Otness, president of the National Alliance for Mental Illness [Local]. "She's bubbly, she's fun, but she gets her point across and people leave knowing more than when she came in."

[Roomie], 23, of [town], said she didn't enter Miss [Pageant] with stars in her eyes. She needed the scholarship money for college.

"My mom struggled to make ends meet for herself," she said. "She couldn't pay for school."

Winning Miss [Pageant] earned [Roomie] $10,000 for her college education. She plans to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education and teach kindergarten.

"Education ties in with anything that's happening in society," she said. "I hope to be a positive impact on childrens' lives. ... I think it's interesting how you can impact young children. You can really affect a child's life for good."

Teachers were a strong influence on [Roomie]'s life through her challenging adolescence. She said music teachers in particular helped her find an outlet for her emotions through performing. She'll play alto saxophone as her talent in the Miss Washington program.

But it's talking about her platform that truly excites her.

"I learned that it needed to be spoken about," she said.

She's spent her year as Miss [Roomie] speaking to community groups and getting active with NAMI to teach the community about mental health resources, and to try to erase the stigma attached to people with mental illnesses.

They're no different than anyone else who suffers from a chronic disease, she said. They're the people we know -- our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones.

"Everybody has a personal story," she said. "Everybody can relate it to their lives."

No Strings Attached?

NBC busted out a new show - Celebrity Circus. Anyone who was a fan of *NSYNC during the NSA days was taken back in some sort of time machine. Joey Fatone is the host and was wearing a jacket reminiscent of the "good old days". Even some of the performers were wearing No Strings Attached-ish costumes (Peter Brady, I'm looking at you.) AND there was a performance with green laser lights (ie - Digital Get Down).

I'm not sayin... I'm just sayin...

"Fred"

Like Molls had the ever-popular "Seamus" living in her digestive system, McMan seems to have a "Fred" living at the base of his right tibia. Fred is a Chondroblastoma (a large-cell tumor). He's most likely benign and his kind usually occur in young people aged 10-30 and in males at a ratio of 2-3:1.

They're sending McMan to a tumor specialist here (if they can get him in this week or the week after next). Or to Seattle/Spokane (if the dr. here is booked). Then we'll find out how (what kind of surgery) and when Fred will be put to death.

Here's to me trying as hard as I can to be "Supportive g/f McP" instead of "Medically Educated and Intrigued McP".

Fred is a bastard that is making my b/f worried and scrrrrd and ruining my summer plans. Die Fred, Die.

Marking a year...

McMan and I marked a year into our relationship. Boy, when we do something, we do it big. Why not ring in year 2 of the relationship with something that shows you what's really important?

What?! No, I'm not pregnant!

McMan had an x-ray 2 weeks ago and an MRI last Friday and got some news today. He's got a tumor next to his tibia in his right leg, at the bottom, by his ankle. They're pretty sure it's benign, but we'll find out more when he has his appointment on Wednesday.

Apparently this is pretty rare, as in the ortho that looked at his films for him hasn't seen anything like this in the 30ish years that he's been practicing. I'm hoping that he'll get to be on some kind of Medical Miracles show - I told him we're holding out for TLC so I can meet Jon and Kate plus 8 and he chimed in, "And Dwarf on a Farm!"

While I'm making light of it in some ways to keep myself sane and from going deeper into my medical mind, we'd both really appreciate any prayers, good vibes, thoughts and or juju you'd like to send our way.

Un An

Well, it's been one year since Carey's Calder Cup BBQ at the Williams' Residence where I discovered McMan didn't hate me (as I'd thought for as long as I'd been acquainted with him) and he discovered that I wasn't hitched (as someone had told him when he mentioned asking me out months before). The rest, as they say, is history.

So, here's to Carey Price and the 2007 Hamilton Bulldogs. Merci Beaucoup!

Coming out of the dark...

As the immortal Gloria Estefan, I am returning from a hiatus. The flying monkeys and I have had quite the spring. I started a new day-job... one that doesn't allow me hours upon hours for mindless searching on the intermanet and time to ponder and blog it. But it does pay really well.

People have been clamoring for my thoughts on a few things:

McP, your thoughts on the Spokane Chiefs Captain Chris Bruton drops the Memorial Cup?
Since the Ams were the last team to beat the Chiefs this year and they are the Highway 395 rivals, I do admit, I jumped up and down while watching it happen on YouTube with McMan at the lake. How embarrassing to have the whole arena booing you for a hardware malfunction! But they deserved the cup - they were determined and worked as a team throughout the playoffs.

How much did you love the touring company of RENT?
Oh holy night... For real, people, the flying monkeys had to carry me out to the car after the show. I can neither confirm nor deny that I wore my "Measure in Love" t-shirt with my character name of "Maureen" on the back. I can, however, confirm that 'Mark', 'Roger', 'Mimi' & 'Maureen' all smiled at me when I was singing at the top of my lungs during the finale. I mean... what?

What about the Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup?
The what? Who? I completely have no idea what you're talking about.
Note from the monkeys: McP is still in a bit of denial, if you couldn't tell.

How's the new Casa McP?
WONDERFUL! I've just got a few things left to get done in the guest bedroom and to get a dining table to be completely happy with everything.

Excited about the Draft?
YES! Especially the goalies... Everything is better with Chetter.

What are your plans for Canada Day?
I'm heading south to the MLM-Milton branch for a WONDERFUL afternoon/evening of NHL monopoly, fun, games, prizes and dairy-free food! YESSSS!!!!

Speaking of the Mafia, any news there?
YES! I'm very proud to say that Hammer has not only been accepted into the wonderful sisterhood of HLOG, but has also been linked frequently by some bigtime bloggers in the blogosphere! YAY for famousness!

Shouldn't you be sleeping?
yeah, considering I'm now usually AT work between 6 and 630 (yes, that's am), I will very shortly be returning to sleepytown.

Former American Makes Team Canada Roster for Women's Worlds

From TSN.ca

"In goal, 21-year-old Shannon Szabados will be the third goaltender instead of Sami Jo Smalls."

Shannon backed up Ams goalie Tyler Weiman early in the 2002-2003 season, becoming the first female to play in the WHL and made history when she played 20 seconds of a regular season game before being sent down to the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

It's always nice to see her accomplishments. Way to go, Shannon! We'll be rooting for you!

The story of a torn goalie lover

Last night's Sharks game was rough. I was watching it with McMan at Ma's house. Everyone else on the ranch was rooting for Montreal because of Baby Carey Price and his affiliation with our local Major Junior team and our family. What's a girl to do? Root for the young man who is ultimately responsible for bringing together me and McMan and providing us with years of quality goal tending or root for my favorite NHL players and team?

The Sharks looked sharp despite a few bad penalties. They took advantage of defensive breakdowns (and non-calls) and skated with speed and determination and ended up winning the game. Marleau, Thornton and Cheechoo scoring along with Shelley's first of the season and Cambell's first as a Shark in his first game at HP Pavillion. If they keep playing like that, they've got a shot at passing the Ducks and possibly even the (Richards-boosted) Stars.

Carey was hung out to dry a couple times by his defense. He also was interfered with more than I like to see my team do to anyone - not just a goalie with a special place in my heart. His frustration was apparent through most of the last 30 minutes of the game - not something normally shown by the cool, calm and collected Price. But not to worry, Habs fans, in the past, he has used that and come back more determined than ever.

I ♥ My Goalie!!!

Great article and pics about Jill and Dennis' visit to Montreal to visit Baby Carey.
Jill said last night that she took Carey to WalMart to go grocery shopping - somehow that doesn't surprise me.

Click here for article and pictures that are funny, but even better if you have ever been around the Williams Residence.

Something also tells me that we haven't seen the last of Carey here in TRI. Jill and Dennis do throw a mean BBQ!

Continuing the Trend

Dear Cody McLeod,

I can't stand you. I haven't been able to stand you as long as I've known you were a human. You were a thorn in my side when you played for the Winterhawks and now you're a burr in my butt with the Avalanche.

Keep your effing stick down and keep your gap-toothed mouth shut. You're damn lucky the refs were checking out Jon Cheechoo's butt out and missed you getting your stick up on Big Joe Thornton's face. I hope that Mike Grier isn't the only guy willing to drop the gloves with you tonight.

You're cockier than most hockey players, and that's not a compliment. Your face makes me want to punch babies.

McPhizzle

Really?! Really.

It's 11:37pm PST. My neighbor upstairs is vacuuming.

quiet hours are 8:00am-10:00pm every day.

I stop playing my piano at 9:58 at the latest.

Vacuuming. Really?! Really. really.

Update Re: People

Then there are the people who are just mean and demanding.....

Not only did the family I have in right now (different family from the service this morning) change the times for public visitation up two hours ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT CONSULTING US REGARDING OUR SCHEDULE, they showed up 30 minutes early and have complained about absolutely everything. EVERYTHING. Dude, your mom was REALLY sick, she's not going to look like her pictures from 5 years ago no matter what the funeral directors do; you gave us no time to do anything the way we normally would've done it, btw, what we did, was a damn good job and in RECORD time.

I can't sympathize with you on what you're going through, but I understand that you're devistated. You're not the only family we're serving this week or even today. You're not the only one who has a loved one who has died, and at least your mother went peacefully and the things you're complaining about are because of a medication she took and now that you've given us the permission, we can fix it, but we don't normally do unnatural things to people. Your wife remained calm and explained things to us... you're acting like a spoiled 12-year-old who is just SURE that everything is RUINED FOREVER and NO ONE can fix it. NO ONE!!! *stomps into the bedroom and slams the door*

with that said.... and deep cleansing breaths taken.... and taking into account that i have not had lunch... or breakfast for that matter... and since this family is here early i WONT get anything to eat before i leave here..... i still.... kind of.... heart people.