Part 3 of "100 Things about K.M.S." I spent way too much thinking of things to list; talking about myself really is difficult.
51. I enjoy bathroom humor. For instance, I bought my FI a birthday card that on the front had three guys in a pool that had a sign near it saying "No peeing in the pool" and there was a brown lump floating in the pool. And inside the card read "You're the shit. Happy Birthday." When I saw the card in the store I laughed so hard I almost cried. I knew the card wasn't romantic but we both enjoy bathroom humor so I knew he would like it.
52. I like a wide range of music. The only music I dislike is hardcore rap and rave/techno crap.
53. I don't like Star Wars.
54. I don't like science fiction movies, TV shows, and books.
55. I have plugs in my eye ducts to limit the amount of "moisture" drained from my eyes. And...my eyes are still severely dry.
56. I wear makeup almost every day. I think it's fun to play with makeup and I don't understand why some ladies are adamantly against wearing any.
57. If I don't bring my lunch to work, my go-to place to buy lunch is Taco Bell. It's cheap and fast and I don't have to get out of my car. 9.9 times out of 10 I'll get the 7-layer burrito.
58. I have 2 Nalgene bottles, one yellow and the other purple. My mom hates the yellow one because she thinks it looks like I'm drinking piss.
59. I played powder puff football in high school. Despite having to play with a bunch of self-obsessed cheerleaders, I had an amazing time.
60. I LOVE going to the eye doctor. I wish instead of having to visit the dentist twice a year I could go to my eye doctor twice a year.
61. I had a gum graft a couple years ago. Apparently that isn't really normal for someone my age but unfortunately I have thin gums.
62. I never had braces. Hahahahahha, to all of you who did have them!
63. I quietly talk to myself when I'm studying or writing reports. I didn't really notice I was doing it until I was studying for a big licensing exam and my FI said, "do they let you talk to yourself during the exam?" I snapped back, "YES!"
64. The longest I ever peed was about a minute and a half. I was at the Women's Soccer World Cup game and the 3rd place game was before the finals and it was so f'ing hot and I didn't want to get up and go to the nasty bathroom, so I sat through two games, drank tons of water and made it through the drive home. When we left I could barely walk because I had to pee so badly.
65. I'm a Republican.
66. I'm generally pretty good with directions. So if we're ever driving together and we get lost, no worries, I'll get us back to safety.
67. My dad grew up with Tim Gunn.
68. My mom wouldn't let me watch Beverly Hills 90210 when I was growing up. It had something to do with that show being a bad influence on a 10-year old....I don't know what she was talking about.
69. Considering how strict my mom was with almost every aspect of life, I find it surprising that she had no problem letting my brother and I watch R-rated movies well before we were 18. The first R-rated movie that I remember seeing was "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", which I saw when I was 5.
70. My absolute favorite mug from my childhood had Cinderella on it. I think it had the stagecoach on one side and Cinderella in her ball gown on the other side. She looked so beautiful and the mug was perfect. When I came back from college and packed up stuff to bring with me to grad school I asked my mom where it was and she very nonchalantly informed me that she threw it out.
71. I don't forgive very easily. I'm much better at it than I used to be but if I say I forgive you, there's a 90% chance I'm lying. Chances are I'll probably forget about you before I ever forgive you.
72. I told my ex that I didn't want to be friends with him after he broke up with me because I already had enough guy friends.
73. I hate crying in front of people. Absolutely hate it.
74. In college I had a weird, slightly OCD habit of rewriting my class notes if I thought they were too messy. I spent a lot of time doing it but I think it also helped me remember what the professors talked about in each lecture.
75. I never went to my high school prom. I don't think it's that big of a deal but people are always shocked and horrified when I mention it.
Up next, the last 25 useless facts about me!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Things about Me: Part 2
Still no exciting hockey stuff. However, here is the second part (#26-50) of the "Let's get to know more useless stuff about me".
26. I hated every single English class I took throughout my school years. The only writing class I enjoyed was "Technical Writing", which I took in college and totally aced.
27. I don't like driving on bridges.
28. I love sitting in an airport, waiting for a flight, and watching the most random looking people walk by.
29. I think (a lot) before I talk. Usually, stuff I want to say goes through several filters before I finally say it.
30. I like HP calculators better than TIs.
31. I love fruits, especially strawberries. I could eat a carton of strawberries every single day.
32. I watch a lot of TV and I hate missing my shows. I do not understand people who say (brag) that they don't even own a TV or rarely watch TV. Your life must be so boring. Sure, reading a book can be entertaining but watching TV provides more laughs and can be just as educational and inspiring as reading.
33. I enjoy watching the Weather Channel. I don't know why, but I could seriously watch it for hours. And if there's a hurricane? Forget it, I want that channel on every single second till the Hurricane passes.
34. I've never owned a laptop but both times I got a desktop I regretted not getting a laptop. The next computer I buy will most definitely be a laptop.
35. I did ballet when I was younger and absolutely hated it. But I also did tap and loved it!
36. At work I drink coffee and tea from the same mug everyday. I only rinse the mug before each use and then every now and then I'll bring it home and give it a good scrubbing. Considering how thoroughly I wash all of my dishes at home I find it odd that I have no problem reusing the same mug without properly cleaning it. I think it may be because I saw an episode of 'Deadliest Catch' in which one of the deckhands showed the cameraman the mug he uses and how he's never washed it despite all the fish and crab guts that are caked on there. I figured, if that guy is still alive, I can live without washing my mug everyday.
37. Penguins are probably my favorite animal. I think they're absolutely adorable. Pandas are a close second.
38. I hate having dry, chapped lips. I always have some sort of lip balm, chapstick, lipstick, or lipgloss with me at all times. Minor obsession. Minor.
39. I go through phases where I'll always wear a watch and then I never wear a watch and then I'll start wearing one again. I'm currently in the 'No Watch' phase.
40. Every single day I wear sunblock on my face: Neutrogena Face Moisturizer with SPF 15. I remember growing up and seeing older ladies on talk shows who barely had any wrinkles and their secret was wearing sunblock everyday. Whether or not this is true, I still wear moisturizer with SPF because I don't want wrinkles and it leaves my face hydrated and smooth.
41. I had really bad acne in high school. I finally took the highest allowed dosage of Acutane my senior year and haven't had a problem since. I always get annoyed at the negative reports about Acutane because that stuff gave me clear skin before I entered college and it probably saved my social life. I'm a big supporter and believer in Acutane...just don't get knocked up while on it.
42. I have a severe case of arachnophobia. The only spiders I can be around, and really I mean, the only spiders I'm capable of killing myself, are itty-bitty spiders or daddy long legs.
43. When I was a baby I had bacterial meningitis. I survived because I'm uber awesome.
44. I think black and blue pens are really boring which is why I like to use green, purple, or pink pens. I realize that using a purple pen at a meeting with clients doesn't look that professional and I try not to do it very often but sometimes I just can't resist the urge to be girly.
45. I don't have a dishwasher in my apartment and I cannot wait till I live in a place that has one.
46. Every now and then I go through phases where I stop drinking soda. As of today, I've gone 4.5 weeks without soda. I feel like I'm in AA.
47. I usually drive to work in flip flops because I hate driving in high heels.
48. I'm not that into cars. I drive a Civic and I love it because it's compact, reliable, and gets great gas mileage. But just wait, my car will probably break down tomorrow.
49. Even though I'm several years away from buying a house/condo, I'm still addicted to looking at real estate websites (Redfin, Trulia, Zillow, etc.)
50. I keep a little notepad in my car and every time I go to the gas station I note the date, mileage, dollars spent, and gallons of gas purchased. Also, whenever I take my car in for an oil change or routine maintenance check, I write down the date, mileage, and maintenance performed. My parents do this and it's something I picked up and I'm still not quite sure exactly why I do it.
26. I hated every single English class I took throughout my school years. The only writing class I enjoyed was "Technical Writing", which I took in college and totally aced.
27. I don't like driving on bridges.
28. I love sitting in an airport, waiting for a flight, and watching the most random looking people walk by.
29. I think (a lot) before I talk. Usually, stuff I want to say goes through several filters before I finally say it.
30. I like HP calculators better than TIs.
31. I love fruits, especially strawberries. I could eat a carton of strawberries every single day.
32. I watch a lot of TV and I hate missing my shows. I do not understand people who say (brag) that they don't even own a TV or rarely watch TV. Your life must be so boring. Sure, reading a book can be entertaining but watching TV provides more laughs and can be just as educational and inspiring as reading.
33. I enjoy watching the Weather Channel. I don't know why, but I could seriously watch it for hours. And if there's a hurricane? Forget it, I want that channel on every single second till the Hurricane passes.
34. I've never owned a laptop but both times I got a desktop I regretted not getting a laptop. The next computer I buy will most definitely be a laptop.
35. I did ballet when I was younger and absolutely hated it. But I also did tap and loved it!
36. At work I drink coffee and tea from the same mug everyday. I only rinse the mug before each use and then every now and then I'll bring it home and give it a good scrubbing. Considering how thoroughly I wash all of my dishes at home I find it odd that I have no problem reusing the same mug without properly cleaning it. I think it may be because I saw an episode of 'Deadliest Catch' in which one of the deckhands showed the cameraman the mug he uses and how he's never washed it despite all the fish and crab guts that are caked on there. I figured, if that guy is still alive, I can live without washing my mug everyday.
37. Penguins are probably my favorite animal. I think they're absolutely adorable. Pandas are a close second.
38. I hate having dry, chapped lips. I always have some sort of lip balm, chapstick, lipstick, or lipgloss with me at all times. Minor obsession. Minor.
39. I go through phases where I'll always wear a watch and then I never wear a watch and then I'll start wearing one again. I'm currently in the 'No Watch' phase.
40. Every single day I wear sunblock on my face: Neutrogena Face Moisturizer with SPF 15. I remember growing up and seeing older ladies on talk shows who barely had any wrinkles and their secret was wearing sunblock everyday. Whether or not this is true, I still wear moisturizer with SPF because I don't want wrinkles and it leaves my face hydrated and smooth.
41. I had really bad acne in high school. I finally took the highest allowed dosage of Acutane my senior year and haven't had a problem since. I always get annoyed at the negative reports about Acutane because that stuff gave me clear skin before I entered college and it probably saved my social life. I'm a big supporter and believer in Acutane...just don't get knocked up while on it.
42. I have a severe case of arachnophobia. The only spiders I can be around, and really I mean, the only spiders I'm capable of killing myself, are itty-bitty spiders or daddy long legs.
43. When I was a baby I had bacterial meningitis. I survived because I'm uber awesome.
44. I think black and blue pens are really boring which is why I like to use green, purple, or pink pens. I realize that using a purple pen at a meeting with clients doesn't look that professional and I try not to do it very often but sometimes I just can't resist the urge to be girly.
45. I don't have a dishwasher in my apartment and I cannot wait till I live in a place that has one.
46. Every now and then I go through phases where I stop drinking soda. As of today, I've gone 4.5 weeks without soda. I feel like I'm in AA.
47. I usually drive to work in flip flops because I hate driving in high heels.
48. I'm not that into cars. I drive a Civic and I love it because it's compact, reliable, and gets great gas mileage. But just wait, my car will probably break down tomorrow.
49. Even though I'm several years away from buying a house/condo, I'm still addicted to looking at real estate websites (Redfin, Trulia, Zillow, etc.)
50. I keep a little notepad in my car and every time I go to the gas station I note the date, mileage, dollars spent, and gallons of gas purchased. Also, whenever I take my car in for an oil change or routine maintenance check, I write down the date, mileage, and maintenance performed. My parents do this and it's something I picked up and I'm still not quite sure exactly why I do it.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
It's all about ME - Part 1
I've debated whether or not I wanted to join the "100 Useless Facts about Me" club but I finally decided to do it since I can't think of anything else to write about and I've enjoyed reading about other bloggers (see: Heather B, Sherry, Finny, Cat). This will be a challenging task for me since I don't like talking about myself and revealing too much information. It may be why my fiance always says he can't quite figure out what's going through my head even though we've been together for more than 4 years. I'll do this thing in four parts, so here's Useless Stuff #1-25:
1. I'm a Southern California girl, born and raised, and I hope I live here for the rest of my life.
2. I went to the midwest for college because I wanted to get out of California and experience life somewhere else. After 4 years I realized I belong in SoCal.
3. I drink coffee everyday. I used to only drink it at work in the mornings, but lately I've noticed that I have severe headaches on the weekends that are only cured by coffee.
4. I love Dunkin' Donuts coffee and there are no longer any DDs in California, which is a huge tragedy. The DD ground coffee beans sold at grocery stores are really good and I seriously hope DD comes back to CA.
5. I've always wanted to be a Starbucks barista. No real reason.
6. I get really excited when roads are repaved. I love driving on new pavement. Yes, I know I'm a huge dork so you don't have to leave a comment telling me what I already know.
7. If I was a guy I would totally be a crab fisherman.
8. If I was a guy I would totally be a fireman. Denis Leary is so f'ing awesome in 'Rescue Me'.
9. If I was a guy I would totally be a hockey player.
10. I really want to go to culinary school.
11. I really want to go to art school and learn how to do letterpress.
12. I'm hapa and I love everything there is to being hapa. I milk that minority shit whenever possible.
13. I like to cook and I love to bake.
14. When I was in 6th grade I was suspended for one day for slapping a boy. Yeah, that's right, don't cross me or else I will cut you!
15. I can sew a mean hem but I wish I could design and sew my own clothes.
16. I iron my own clothes because I cannot fathom sending them to a dry cleaner and paying them to do something I can do myself.
17. I'm thrift and I hate paying for stuff I can do myself, such as valet parking (such utter bullshit).
18. I love looking at my finances and calculating my net worth each month.
19. I have a severe candy addiction. I rarely, if ever, crave chocolate, but I could eat candy every single day.
20. I get the Asian-glow but it doesn't stop me from drinking. Usually a Pepcid AC will do the trick and I won't have to worry about the redness. In college I could put down a lot considering my size. Now I don't drink as much but I'll still drink a lot when the occasion arises.
21. I'm not a big wine drinker. I prefer beer and I'm by no means a beer snob. Give me a Bud Light or PBR and I'm good to go. When I feel like riding in style I'll purchase some Shiner Bock.
22. In college one of my favorite semester activities was the Case Race my sorority girls organized. Each team had 4 members and one 24 pack to put down and the team that finished first was the winner. There was no real prize, just bragging rights for an entire semester. We finally realized that the larger breasts you had the more you could drink. It's true, scientific research! I think the most one girl drank in one Case Race was 10 beers. My proudest moment was finishing my 6 beers before vomiting in-synch with my future Maid-of-Honor.
23. I changed my major after my freshman year. I settled on a major that I was interested in, would allow me to get paid to attend grad school, and would provide me a financially stable career.
24. I have one older brother and like all little sisters who can't think for themselves, I adored and always wanted to do everything he did, which is why I like playing video games, enjoy male-oriented movies, and like the music that I do.
25. I played the flute when I was younger, refused to be in the marching band, was in the high school orchestra, and never went to band camp.
Check back later for Part II.
1. I'm a Southern California girl, born and raised, and I hope I live here for the rest of my life.
2. I went to the midwest for college because I wanted to get out of California and experience life somewhere else. After 4 years I realized I belong in SoCal.
3. I drink coffee everyday. I used to only drink it at work in the mornings, but lately I've noticed that I have severe headaches on the weekends that are only cured by coffee.
4. I love Dunkin' Donuts coffee and there are no longer any DDs in California, which is a huge tragedy. The DD ground coffee beans sold at grocery stores are really good and I seriously hope DD comes back to CA.
5. I've always wanted to be a Starbucks barista. No real reason.
6. I get really excited when roads are repaved. I love driving on new pavement. Yes, I know I'm a huge dork so you don't have to leave a comment telling me what I already know.
7. If I was a guy I would totally be a crab fisherman.
8. If I was a guy I would totally be a fireman. Denis Leary is so f'ing awesome in 'Rescue Me'.
9. If I was a guy I would totally be a hockey player.
10. I really want to go to culinary school.
11. I really want to go to art school and learn how to do letterpress.
12. I'm hapa and I love everything there is to being hapa. I milk that minority shit whenever possible.
13. I like to cook and I love to bake.
14. When I was in 6th grade I was suspended for one day for slapping a boy. Yeah, that's right, don't cross me or else I will cut you!
15. I can sew a mean hem but I wish I could design and sew my own clothes.
16. I iron my own clothes because I cannot fathom sending them to a dry cleaner and paying them to do something I can do myself.
17. I'm thrift and I hate paying for stuff I can do myself, such as valet parking (such utter bullshit).
18. I love looking at my finances and calculating my net worth each month.
19. I have a severe candy addiction. I rarely, if ever, crave chocolate, but I could eat candy every single day.
20. I get the Asian-glow but it doesn't stop me from drinking. Usually a Pepcid AC will do the trick and I won't have to worry about the redness. In college I could put down a lot considering my size. Now I don't drink as much but I'll still drink a lot when the occasion arises.
21. I'm not a big wine drinker. I prefer beer and I'm by no means a beer snob. Give me a Bud Light or PBR and I'm good to go. When I feel like riding in style I'll purchase some Shiner Bock.
22. In college one of my favorite semester activities was the Case Race my sorority girls organized. Each team had 4 members and one 24 pack to put down and the team that finished first was the winner. There was no real prize, just bragging rights for an entire semester. We finally realized that the larger breasts you had the more you could drink. It's true, scientific research! I think the most one girl drank in one Case Race was 10 beers. My proudest moment was finishing my 6 beers before vomiting in-synch with my future Maid-of-Honor.
23. I changed my major after my freshman year. I settled on a major that I was interested in, would allow me to get paid to attend grad school, and would provide me a financially stable career.
24. I have one older brother and like all little sisters who can't think for themselves, I adored and always wanted to do everything he did, which is why I like playing video games, enjoy male-oriented movies, and like the music that I do.
25. I played the flute when I was younger, refused to be in the marching band, was in the high school orchestra, and never went to band camp.
Check back later for Part II.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Kings World Podcast - Episode 1.7
It's Tuesday! And Connie and I are back with another episode of Kings World Podcast.
We briefly discuss updates from the past week and then spend a good portion of the podcast discussing the Gretzky years. We may have gotten carried away with some story-telling and reliving memories but hopefully you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed talking about them.
We briefly discuss updates from the past week and then spend a good portion of the podcast discussing the Gretzky years. We may have gotten carried away with some story-telling and reliving memories but hopefully you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed talking about them.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Civilization
Two non-hockey related posts in a row! I'm really on a roll here!
Anyhoo, I just have to give my 2 cents on Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution video game. This is the best thing ever to get you through the off-season. I can easily play for 6-8 hours straight. However, the need to win every time I play is really killing me during the work week since I have to be in the office relatively early and once I start playing it's like fucking crack and I just can't quit it! But if you need something to get your mind off of hockey, or anything for that matter, buy this game because it's f'ing awesome (and won't hurt your wrists like Guitar Hero...or am I just weak?).
Anyhoo, I just have to give my 2 cents on Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution video game. This is the best thing ever to get you through the off-season. I can easily play for 6-8 hours straight. However, the need to win every time I play is really killing me during the work week since I have to be in the office relatively early and once I start playing it's like fucking crack and I just can't quit it! But if you need something to get your mind off of hockey, or anything for that matter, buy this game because it's f'ing awesome (and won't hurt your wrists like Guitar Hero...or am I just weak?).
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
SoCal is a Shakin'
This is totally not hockey related, but goddamn I haven't been in a jolter like that in awhile. Reminded me of how much I hate earthquakes...
Kings World Podcast - Episode 1.6
This week Connie and I discuss recent Kings updates. We talk about the ridiculous rumor reported by the Ottawa Sun that had Anze Kopitar headed to Chicago, the Tukonen trade, recent RFA re-signings and the hiring of new head coach Terry Murray. We finish our discussion with a bet concerning Patrick O'Sullivan. We are asking the listeners for help with this bet, so please listen and enjoy!
Connie has been hard at work to improve the recording quality of the podcast so please bear with us aswe she figures everything out. Big kudos to her for taking on the technical aspect of the podcast.
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at our website.
We welcome any and all feedback! Please direct any questions, comments, or thoughts to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com and don't forget that you can search for us on Facebook and MySpace.
Connie has been hard at work to improve the recording quality of the podcast so please bear with us as
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at our website.
We welcome any and all feedback! Please direct any questions, comments, or thoughts to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com and don't forget that you can search for us on Facebook and MySpace.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Books about Hockey: Part 2
Within the past year I have read three distinctly different books about hockey. Each book caters specifically to a different group and I think two of them could be enjoyed by most hockey fans and one of those is a must read for every hockey fan. My review of the third and, in my opinion, the best book will be in the next post of Books about Hockey.
The first book I read was one that I had never even heard of till I received it for free. 'Hockey and High Heels' is not your usual hockey book. The Kings organization held a 'Hockey and High Heels' event at Staples Center in late October 2007 and I was fortunate enough to have attended. Plenty has been written on this blog about the H&HH event and if you wish to revisit it you can read about my initial reaction, my review of the event and Connie's review of it as well. All attendees were given a goody-bag and one of the items in the loot was the 'Hockey and High Heels' book written by hockey enthusiast Lisa Ovens, a Vancouver Canucks fan. The cover of the book is incredibly girly and I imagine it is off-putting to a good number of female fans, who may think they're too "good enough" or "hardcore enough of a fan" to read something like it. I would classify this book as a chick-hockey-book, similar to the usual chick books I mentioned in my previous post about Books about Hockey, that should be enjoyed on a sunny afternoon, lounging on a chair at the beach or pool with a fun drink to keep you cool.
Through 'Hockey and High Heels' the reader lives Lisa's life during her first year as a Canucks season ticket holder. She mainly discusses the games she attends and her relationships with her close friends. Not being a season ticket holder myself, I found it amusing how neighboring season ticket holders have an almost instant bond. Every now and then a hockey fact, description, or explanation is thrown in to provide a bit of history and clarification for any reader who may be unfamiliar with a certain hockey topic. The book is very heavy in dialogue and almost reads like an open diary because you experience what Lisa does and you can feel her emotions, although it didn't hurt that I met her so I could picture her saying certain things in her high squeaky, cheery voice.
Recommended For: The female or ultra-flaming hockey fan who wants an easy read about hockey, friends, and relationships. It makes you want to convert all of your girlfriends to hockey fans.
The second book I read was 'Bob Miller's Tales from the Los Angeles Kings' written by Bob Miller and Randy Schultz. I expected a completely different organizational layout and am still conflicted on whether or not I like how it was written and displayed. At first I thought this was some sort of autobiography about Miller's time as a play-by-play announcer with the Kings but quickly realized I was incorrect. While it does include some history about how Miller came to work for the Kings it doesn't delve too much into his personal life. Rather, the book is about his memorable moments with the Kings and is more of a story-telling book, which is true to the book's title so I suppose I shouldn't have really been that surprised.
This book is a great read for any Kings fan. Longtime fans will enjoy the tales about the Kings' early days in LA, fans my age will remember the great times of the Cup Finals, and young and new fans will read about the history of the Kings and learn some interesting facts about past ownership and memorable moments. The book starts in chronological order and the reader learns how Miller started in the business and how he came to LA. But eventually the book jumps around in Kings history based on the topic of the chapter. I still can't quite figure out if I like how the events were grouped by topic or if I would have preferred to have read the tales in chronological order. Most readers may not even think twice about this layout but for someone who likes to have everything organized alphabetically or numerically or in some organized neat manner, it bothered me.
The reason why I like this book so much is not because I got to relive the highs and lows of the Kings or hear about hilarious events that Miller witnessed. I really liked this book because it gave me a look into Miller's personality. All these years of listening to him call games and seeing him on the broadcasts, I had developed an image of Miller of what he must be like off camera. I envisioned him as a polite, somewhat reserved gentleman who was knowledgeable about the game and loved his job. But this book gave me a different perspective of Miller and his tales paint him as a jokester, a smart, driven person who won't let anyone treat him like shit. He has a great sense of humor that is reflected in his retelling of certain events and he also shows off his rough edges, his man's man side.
Recommended For: Kings fans of all ages and any hockey fan interested in a bit of Kings history.
Next post: Another review of another book about hockey. And, if I put the post off long enough, I may even finish the book I'm currently reading and be able to give a review of that too.
The first book I read was one that I had never even heard of till I received it for free. 'Hockey and High Heels' is not your usual hockey book. The Kings organization held a 'Hockey and High Heels' event at Staples Center in late October 2007 and I was fortunate enough to have attended. Plenty has been written on this blog about the H&HH event and if you wish to revisit it you can read about my initial reaction, my review of the event and Connie's review of it as well. All attendees were given a goody-bag and one of the items in the loot was the 'Hockey and High Heels' book written by hockey enthusiast Lisa Ovens, a Vancouver Canucks fan. The cover of the book is incredibly girly and I imagine it is off-putting to a good number of female fans, who may think they're too "good enough" or "hardcore enough of a fan" to read something like it. I would classify this book as a chick-hockey-book, similar to the usual chick books I mentioned in my previous post about Books about Hockey, that should be enjoyed on a sunny afternoon, lounging on a chair at the beach or pool with a fun drink to keep you cool.
Through 'Hockey and High Heels' the reader lives Lisa's life during her first year as a Canucks season ticket holder. She mainly discusses the games she attends and her relationships with her close friends. Not being a season ticket holder myself, I found it amusing how neighboring season ticket holders have an almost instant bond. Every now and then a hockey fact, description, or explanation is thrown in to provide a bit of history and clarification for any reader who may be unfamiliar with a certain hockey topic. The book is very heavy in dialogue and almost reads like an open diary because you experience what Lisa does and you can feel her emotions, although it didn't hurt that I met her so I could picture her saying certain things in her high squeaky, cheery voice.
Recommended For: The female or ultra-flaming hockey fan who wants an easy read about hockey, friends, and relationships. It makes you want to convert all of your girlfriends to hockey fans.
The second book I read was 'Bob Miller's Tales from the Los Angeles Kings' written by Bob Miller and Randy Schultz. I expected a completely different organizational layout and am still conflicted on whether or not I like how it was written and displayed. At first I thought this was some sort of autobiography about Miller's time as a play-by-play announcer with the Kings but quickly realized I was incorrect. While it does include some history about how Miller came to work for the Kings it doesn't delve too much into his personal life. Rather, the book is about his memorable moments with the Kings and is more of a story-telling book, which is true to the book's title so I suppose I shouldn't have really been that surprised.
This book is a great read for any Kings fan. Longtime fans will enjoy the tales about the Kings' early days in LA, fans my age will remember the great times of the Cup Finals, and young and new fans will read about the history of the Kings and learn some interesting facts about past ownership and memorable moments. The book starts in chronological order and the reader learns how Miller started in the business and how he came to LA. But eventually the book jumps around in Kings history based on the topic of the chapter. I still can't quite figure out if I like how the events were grouped by topic or if I would have preferred to have read the tales in chronological order. Most readers may not even think twice about this layout but for someone who likes to have everything organized alphabetically or numerically or in some organized neat manner, it bothered me.
The reason why I like this book so much is not because I got to relive the highs and lows of the Kings or hear about hilarious events that Miller witnessed. I really liked this book because it gave me a look into Miller's personality. All these years of listening to him call games and seeing him on the broadcasts, I had developed an image of Miller of what he must be like off camera. I envisioned him as a polite, somewhat reserved gentleman who was knowledgeable about the game and loved his job. But this book gave me a different perspective of Miller and his tales paint him as a jokester, a smart, driven person who won't let anyone treat him like shit. He has a great sense of humor that is reflected in his retelling of certain events and he also shows off his rough edges, his man's man side.
Recommended For: Kings fans of all ages and any hockey fan interested in a bit of Kings history.
Next post: Another review of another book about hockey. And, if I put the post off long enough, I may even finish the book I'm currently reading and be able to give a review of that too.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Books about Hockey
Not too long ago my hermano was rummaging through our dad's book collection acting like he actually cared about fine literary pieces. I have no shame so I proudly confessed that I only read books about hockey. I think he thought I was joking, but I wasn't. Throughout my schooling I was never a fan of English classes and only read novels because I had to, not because I actually wanted to and that sentiment has carried on till this day. During college, to take a break from the science related textbooks, I would read the usual chick book, 'Jemima J', 'The Nanny Diaries', Devil Wears Prada ' (before the movie came out), etc.
However, recently I discovered my interest in reading books about hockey. I can only remember reading one hockey book when I was younger. It was a biography about Wayne Gretzky and if I'm not mistaken, I read it when I was in the 6th grade and did a book report on it. It was the year following the Kings' trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and I was a HUGE Kings fan at the time. I don't remember the name of the book but it was a smallish paperback that I probably still have in my childhood bedroom. From what I remember it was a fun read. I learned all about Gretzky and his family and what he was like as a young hockey prodigy.
A couple years ago I read, 'The Boys of Winter', a book that briefly profiles each member of the 1980 US Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team. I read this book not too long after the movie 'Miracle' came out and if you're thinking of reading this book, I highly suggest watching the movie before you dive into the book because of the contrast between each piece. It's really fascinating and somewhat surprising to learn that most of the players spent the rest of their lives searching for a way to regain the feeling they had when they won the gold medal. Some, like Mike Eruzione, took the medal and essentially made a career out of it. Others, like Mike Ramsey continued to have minor success in hockey and went on to play in the NHL. But for most, winning that gold medal wasn't just the high point of their hockey careers, it was the high point of their lives. Even if you hated the movie and everything it preaches, or you're a non-American and you absolutely despise hearing another story about this unbelievable moment for Americans, I seriously suggest you read the book. It's interesting to hear how twenty different people from the same gold medal winning team, could live their lives in such different states of mind due to one medal that shaped their lives for better or worse.
Next up I'll have a post on three hockey books I read within the past year.
However, recently I discovered my interest in reading books about hockey. I can only remember reading one hockey book when I was younger. It was a biography about Wayne Gretzky and if I'm not mistaken, I read it when I was in the 6th grade and did a book report on it. It was the year following the Kings' trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and I was a HUGE Kings fan at the time. I don't remember the name of the book but it was a smallish paperback that I probably still have in my childhood bedroom. From what I remember it was a fun read. I learned all about Gretzky and his family and what he was like as a young hockey prodigy.
A couple years ago I read, 'The Boys of Winter', a book that briefly profiles each member of the 1980 US Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team. I read this book not too long after the movie 'Miracle' came out and if you're thinking of reading this book, I highly suggest watching the movie before you dive into the book because of the contrast between each piece. It's really fascinating and somewhat surprising to learn that most of the players spent the rest of their lives searching for a way to regain the feeling they had when they won the gold medal. Some, like Mike Eruzione, took the medal and essentially made a career out of it. Others, like Mike Ramsey continued to have minor success in hockey and went on to play in the NHL. But for most, winning that gold medal wasn't just the high point of their hockey careers, it was the high point of their lives. Even if you hated the movie and everything it preaches, or you're a non-American and you absolutely despise hearing another story about this unbelievable moment for Americans, I seriously suggest you read the book. It's interesting to hear how twenty different people from the same gold medal winning team, could live their lives in such different states of mind due to one medal that shaped their lives for better or worse.
Next up I'll have a post on three hockey books I read within the past year.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
'Hockey Player For Life'
Author Howard Shapiro has a book coming out in October titled, 'Hockey Player for Life'. It's a children's book but can be enjoyed by all ages. And what better way to get a kid into hockey then having him or her be able to read a book with a hockey storyline.
Visit his website Hockey Player for Life to learn more about Shapiro and read about other children's books he's written. You can also view some sample pages from his book and after the jump is a YouTube video, using speed painting technology, promoting his book, 'Hockey Player for Life'.
Visit his website Hockey Player for Life to learn more about Shapiro and read about other children's books he's written. You can also view some sample pages from his book and after the jump is a YouTube video, using speed painting technology, promoting his book, 'Hockey Player for Life'.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Hockey News Roundup
I've been super busy and tired lately but the real reason for a news roundup instead of posting my own junk is because I'm lazy. I'd rather play Civilization or Guitar Hero than sit at my desk (I really need a laptop) and type up posts about the Kings on my 4-year old super slow computer (yes, I really do need that new laptop). So here's what caught my eye recently:
Brian Kamenetzky at SportHubLA had a chance to speak with Dean Lombardi after yesterday's press conference. Check it out, it's good stuff. I could have done that too but I guess you need a press pass to do that sort of thing.
Sherry at Scarlett Ice has an interesting critical post about a writer making an accusation that Emery wasn't well received in the NHL because of racism.
Marie Stiles (oh wait, that's me!) has some stuff on SportsHubLA (ah yes, another shameless plug) about the recent re-signings of 4 Kings players and a little blurb about new Kings head coach, Terry Murray.
Shame on you if you haven't been keeping track of SportSquee's Challenge: Top Ten Hottest Hockey Players. I was featured against Sarah of the Unofficial Matthieu Schneider Homepage so check out my Top 10 Hotties.
The Kris Draper Rule prevented a fan from placing his daughter in the holiest of hockey awards. Damn you, Kris Draper's daughter for ruining Christmas for everyone!
Jaime Lundmark signed with the Flames. I know that no one outside Calgary gives a flying shit but I care because I liked Lundmark when he was with the Kings for several months after the Craig Conroy trade. I thought he was a decent player that was much better than some of the other lesser skilled players (Brian Willsie, Kevin Dallman, Jeff Guiliano, John Zeiler, do I really need to go on?). But instead of re-signing with the Kings or any other NHL club he played last season in Europe. It's good to see him back because I think he deserves it.
Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen wrote an article about Kings goaltender Jason LaBarbera. It's mainly about him golfing at PCV neighbor, Trump National Golf Course about how even though he makes millions, he didn't have to pay the usual $300/round but only had to fork over what common folk would die to pay for to play at Trump's beautiful grounds: $50. But talking about golf (*snore*) isn't the juiciest stuff in the article. The best part of the article was when he dished about it being difficult to play for Marc Crawford.
Brian Kamenetzky at SportHubLA had a chance to speak with Dean Lombardi after yesterday's press conference. Check it out, it's good stuff. I could have done that too but I guess you need a press pass to do that sort of thing.
Sherry at Scarlett Ice has an interesting critical post about a writer making an accusation that Emery wasn't well received in the NHL because of racism.
Marie Stiles (oh wait, that's me!) has some stuff on SportsHubLA (ah yes, another shameless plug) about the recent re-signings of 4 Kings players and a little blurb about new Kings head coach, Terry Murray.
Shame on you if you haven't been keeping track of SportSquee's Challenge: Top Ten Hottest Hockey Players. I was featured against Sarah of the Unofficial Matthieu Schneider Homepage so check out my Top 10 Hotties.
The Kris Draper Rule prevented a fan from placing his daughter in the holiest of hockey awards. Damn you, Kris Draper's daughter for ruining Christmas for everyone!
Jaime Lundmark signed with the Flames. I know that no one outside Calgary gives a flying shit but I care because I liked Lundmark when he was with the Kings for several months after the Craig Conroy trade. I thought he was a decent player that was much better than some of the other lesser skilled players (Brian Willsie, Kevin Dallman, Jeff Guiliano, John Zeiler, do I really need to go on?). But instead of re-signing with the Kings or any other NHL club he played last season in Europe. It's good to see him back because I think he deserves it.
Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen wrote an article about Kings goaltender Jason LaBarbera. It's mainly about him golfing at PCV neighbor, Trump National Golf Course about how even though he makes millions, he didn't have to pay the usual $300/round but only had to fork over what common folk would die to pay for to play at Trump's beautiful grounds: $50. But talking about golf (*snore*) isn't the juiciest stuff in the article. The best part of the article was when he dished about it being difficult to play for Marc Crawford.
He was a tough guy to read, he's pretty intense and likes things done his way. Obviously he has a good track record and is a respected coach because he's won a Stanley Cup but it seemed it never was a good fit having Crow there, with the group of guys we had.
FINALLY, a player who voices his opinion about having Crow as the head coach. I've been waiting since January's devastating blow-out by the Nashville Predators for someone to come forward and talk about Crow. There were so many games during the '07-'08 season in which the players seemed to not respond to Crow's coaching style. I am so thankful that he was fired and while I don't know much about Terry Murray, I am welcoming the change with an open mind and extremely low expectations: just do better than Crow.
And last, but not least, Britney Spears just agreed to let K-Fed have sole custody of the kids. Wow. Now that is some important shit.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Kings World Podcast - Episode 1.5
After a week off, Connie and I are back with another episode of Kings World Podcast. We discuss the departure of Rob Blake, the one Free Agent transaction, and the Kings development camp.
The future looks bright...we're keeping faith alive.
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at: http://kingsworldpodcast.podbean.com/
We welcome any and all feedback! Please direct any questions, comments, or thoughts to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.
And you can find us on Facebook and MySpace!
The future looks bright...we're keeping faith alive.
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at: http://kingsworldpodcast.podbean.com/
We welcome any and all feedback! Please direct any questions, comments, or thoughts to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.
And you can find us on Facebook and MySpace!
Friday, July 4, 2008
At Least We Have Brownie
and his twin, Shane Lyons, a finalist on The Next Food Network Star:
I am so glad the Kings and Brownie agreed to a contract extension during the season. I expect him to be one of the alternate captains and further develop and improve his numbers.
I am so glad the Kings and Brownie agreed to a contract extension during the season. I expect him to be one of the alternate captains and further develop and improve his numbers.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
No F'ing Way...
While the deal has yet to be confirmed, Rich Hammond of Inside the Kings is reporting that he has confirmed with two sources that ROB BLAKE HAS SIGNED WITH SAN JOSE.
My first reaction was:
(*silence* My jaw dropped *silence*)
And then my second reaction was:
HOLY SHIT...WOW
(*silence* My jaw dropped *silence*)
And then my second reaction was:
HOLY SHIT...WOW
Supposedly the deal is $5 million for one year. If this is true, then it most likely happened because the Kings didn't want to overpay for Rob Blake. The dude is ancient; Blake will turn 40 in December. He's aggressive in the offensive zone, still has a wicked slap shot, still has his size, but he's turned into a whiny bastard who doesn't throw his body around nearly as much as is needed and hasn't been as defensively sound as he used to and should be. $5 million? No f'ing way. I would have been PO'd if Lombardi signed him for that much. But now that Blake is (most likely) out of here, the Kings are in a huge vat of shit because the only real veteran defenseman they have is Tom Preissing. I hope this doesn't mean the Kings will go after Dan Boyle. But let's be honest, there's no f'ing way Boyle would want to come to LA now.
So who has the heart of coal? Marian Hossa or Rob Blake? I'm going to pick Rob Blake because I don't think Hossa "owed" anything to Pittsburgh. Blake f'd over the Kings once and now he's done it again.
So who has the heart of coal? Marian Hossa or Rob Blake? I'm going to pick Rob Blake because I don't think Hossa "owed" anything to Pittsburgh. Blake f'd over the Kings once and now he's done it again.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Kings World Podcast - Episode 1.4
Connie and I discuss the recent Kings trade that sent Lubomir Visnovsky to Edmonton for Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene. (Don't worry, neither of us cries.) We then talk about the upcoming Free Agency that starts today and which positions the Kings still need to fill and possible free agents that could fill the role(s). We also throw in some fun by ridiculing Dan Cloutier but finish the episode with some sappy shoutouts (again, no crying).
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at: http://kingsworldpodcast.podbean.com/
We welcome any and all feedback! Please direct any questions, comments, or thoughts to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.
And you can find us on Facebook and MySpace!
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at: http://kingsworldpodcast.podbean.com/
We welcome any and all feedback! Please direct any questions, comments, or thoughts to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.
And you can find us on Facebook and MySpace!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Au Revoir Lubo
I can't help but wonder if Lubo would still be on the team if he and the Kings had agreed to a significantly lower contract during last year's off-season. I shouldn't linger on the past but maybe his huge pay raise and large drop in production will cause Lombardi to think twice this off-season before agreeing to long-term high salary contracts.
I'm torn about this trade. On one hand I thought last year was an off-season for Lubo. The Kings defense was terrible all-around and while they needed to focus on being stable defensively, Lubo was always more of an offensive threat. During the Draft the analysts kept speculating that Lombardi was trying to unload Lubo so the trade possibility was in my mind whether I liked it or not. I was prepared to hear about Lubo being traded but I'm still sad. At 31, he's on the older half of the team and we received younger guys in return, all part of the Lombardi Master Plan.
I don't know much about Matt Greene but I suppose we'll see him on the blueline come October. Because if we don't see him...who the hell will be playing defense? I didn't think the Kings were going to be big players during Free Agency, but now that a big paycheck was just unloaded, it's very possible that the Kings will sign one or two veteran defensemen. If I'm not mistaken, the only definite veteran blueliner is Tom Preissing and Tommy P ain't gonna be contributing much to the offense. I suppose Lombardi (and the future coach) will let up on Jack's leash and maybe Blakey will re-sign to assist on the offense. There are two defensemen I would like to see come to the Kings within the next couple weeks: Brad Stuart and Brooks Orpik. Can we afford both? Possibly. Do either or both want to sign here? I doubt it. But we need them. At the rate we're going, the defense could be even worse next year and the Kings will be down a man who can start the offensive rush from behind his own net.
Lubo, Good Luck in Edmonton. Edmonton, enjoy the $5.6 million/year salary for the next 5 years. Will Lubo be worth $5.6 million at 36? I think Lombardi made the smart move.
I'm torn about this trade. On one hand I thought last year was an off-season for Lubo. The Kings defense was terrible all-around and while they needed to focus on being stable defensively, Lubo was always more of an offensive threat. During the Draft the analysts kept speculating that Lombardi was trying to unload Lubo so the trade possibility was in my mind whether I liked it or not. I was prepared to hear about Lubo being traded but I'm still sad. At 31, he's on the older half of the team and we received younger guys in return, all part of the Lombardi Master Plan.
I don't know much about Matt Greene but I suppose we'll see him on the blueline come October. Because if we don't see him...who the hell will be playing defense? I didn't think the Kings were going to be big players during Free Agency, but now that a big paycheck was just unloaded, it's very possible that the Kings will sign one or two veteran defensemen. If I'm not mistaken, the only definite veteran blueliner is Tom Preissing and Tommy P ain't gonna be contributing much to the offense. I suppose Lombardi (and the future coach) will let up on Jack's leash and maybe Blakey will re-sign to assist on the offense. There are two defensemen I would like to see come to the Kings within the next couple weeks: Brad Stuart and Brooks Orpik. Can we afford both? Possibly. Do either or both want to sign here? I doubt it. But we need them. At the rate we're going, the defense could be even worse next year and the Kings will be down a man who can start the offensive rush from behind his own net.
Lubo, Good Luck in Edmonton. Edmonton, enjoy the $5.6 million/year salary for the next 5 years. Will Lubo be worth $5.6 million at 36? I think Lombardi made the smart move.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Kings World Podcast - Episode 1.3
Connie and I couldn't wait another week to talk about the Draft and all of our wonderful newbies. We review the Draft picks and trades and each of us grade Lombardi on how well he did this past weekend.
We also complain about Cloutier's endless journey to piss off Kings fans.
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at: Kings World Podcast
Send any questions, comments, or feedback to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.
Enjoy!
We also complain about Cloutier's endless journey to piss off Kings fans.
Please check us out at our respective blogs and at: Kings World Podcast
Send any questions, comments, or feedback to kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Are you in? Or are you out?
I had grand plans to mimic my UFAs post from last off-season and provide wondrous summaries for each player but my head isn't into it. Instead, I'm going to play a game of "Are you in? Or, are you out?", except that those that are in won't have to be hazed.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Unrestricted Free Agents
Mr. Robert Blake
Didn't he allegedly kill his wife? Oh right, the other Robert Blake. Well sure, he can come back, but for a cheaper price tag. If he really wants to be on this team and see it succeed then he better be ready to pony up to the "take one for the team" mentality that the Red Wings have perfected.
Lady-Slave Nagy
This past weekend one of my friends was trying to explain (to a bunch of industry people) why he liked the movie Transformers. One of the industry guys cut him off and said, "It's like what I say to religious people. 'I really want to buy into what you're saying, but I just don't get it.'" That's exactly how I feel about Nagy.
Scott Thorton
I don't see stand-up-veteran-locker-room-guy pulling the retirement switcharoo. Best of luck to Thornton.
Brian Willsie
I almost had a seizure just thinking of that shootout attempt.
Jon Klemm
Goodness gracious, no wonder we almost finished in last place.
Richard Petiot
He's in Group VI and at one point I actually knew what that meant, but it's so irrelevant I forget what it is. Regardless, as Hextall put it, "he plateaued" and was never able to make it in the bigs...with the Kings.
Kevin Dallman
Tampa Bay should be f'ing embarrassed that they finished behind the Kings.
Jeff Guiliano
I didn't think he had a shot in hell of staying on the squad this past year, but his hard work and HUGE legs contributed to his mild success. While Connie really wants to see him back, I think we can do better...and so do the Kings.
Brendan Buckley
I think I've heard of him before...
Wow, what a great group of UFAs. I guess only Blakey is willing (and deserving) to suck on a pacifier all day.
RFAs after the jump.
Restricted Free Agents
Joe Piskula
Hmmm....he's a toss up. On one hand, we really need defensemen and he could possibly become an NHL caliber player. But on the other hand, I expected him to be further along in his development, especially considering the organization had enough faith in him to sign him to a $1 million+ salary. Last season he made more than Kopitar! I really want to like this guy and believe that he can make it and be a solid defenseman. I mean c'mon, look at the guy! He's got the size and the look of a hockey player. I'm sure he wants to stay, but I'm not so sure the Kings want to keep him at that price tag. He'll either sign for less or the Kings will let him walk.Patrick O'Sullivan
I can't stop thinking about his potential development and the awesomeness he exudes while playing. God help me if he isn't in a Kings jersey next fall.
Erik Ersberg
We gotta give him a chance.
Gabe Gauthier
I say pass.
Dany Roussin
He's so special, he went through the Draft twice!
Peter Harrold
Similar to Piskula but actually capable of playing in the NHL right now. I don't know who else would be on the blueline, so unless we pick Doughty or Lombardi has some tricks up his sleeve, I think Harrold will be back.
Petr Kanko
Believe it or not, he's scarier than Ivanans. You might as well keep the guy around to protect the boys in Manchester.
Matt Moulson
I'll be very disappointed if Moulson isn't re-signed. He exhibited a lot of smarts and skills during his short stint with LA and I was bummed that Lombardi sent him back to Manchester along with Boyle and Purcell. I just can't see Lombardi cutting ties with a promising young forward.
The Kings have some potential returnees on the RFA List but for most of them their return is questionable. Even if some (like Piskula) won't be ready to play with the Kings next season, they'll still be huge assets in the farm system, especially since the Kings continue to pick up younger and younger players who will need leadership from the veteran minor leaguers. So while the actual LA Kings team may not directly benefit from re-signing the majority of the RFAs I think it's in the entire franchise's best interest to re-sign them.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Kings World Podcast - Episode 1.2
Connie and I recorded Episode 1.2 of Kings World Podcast in which we talk about some Kings updates (Crow is outta here!) and the upcoming Draft. I finally got a decent mic so you can actually hear me in this episode. To listen, click the player in the left column, subscribe to us on iTunes, or go to our podbean website.
Leave comments, questions, or feedback at kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com and visit us on our Facebook group. Enjoy!!
Leave comments, questions, or feedback at kingsworldpodcast[at]gmail[dot]com and visit us on our Facebook group. Enjoy!!
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