And the place went crazy.....

The evening started not different from many other hockey game nights. Last minute skate sharpening, barely on time and then waiting around for game time. We were matched against Mahtomedi, and of course I wore my Totino Grace colors with pride. Mind you- my son plays for White Bear Lake, my older boy goes to TG. TG the team that beat Mahtomedi in the state championship game this last Nov. A game we nor they will ever forget. Anyway, it's not that I like to rub salt on a deep wound but , ok maybe I do. It was such a big win and they never thought we could beat them. So much for their smack talk.

Back to the game. It was pretty evenly matched in the beginning. We played tough, not giving them many scoring opportunites and breaking up their pass plays effectively. Late in the first period, they scored. It was a great shot and setup, I was impressed with this Mahtomedi team. I was very much less than impressed with their fans. We had the pleasure of siting within screaming distance of a fan/parent who, shall we say, had alot to yell about. "Shoot the puck" being his favorite. By the end of the first period, down 0-1, we took a nice shot at their net. The golaie baubled the puck and we tipped it in. However the less than adept refferees had blown the whistle a split second before and the goal was disallowed. We went into the second period more than a little disappointed. But we are Bears, we can overcome. The fans cannot. They screamed about anything and everything as we started the second period. Tempers started to flare on the ice as well, with lots of pushing and shoving and even a couple fisticuffs. By this time the ref's had lost control of the ice. Then it happened. Not premeditated, as some would argue, and completely by accident, we checked from behind, hard. It was a really bad hit. The kid went down and I could hear him cry. I yelled at my son, he was the one who made the hit. He was sent to the penalty box. Now mind you, all hell is breaking loose and things happened very fast. The ref's were first to the kid, then the coaches and then the dad(not sure if it was the dad) but he was a yellin like it was his kid. Then the parents were screaming at the rest. At this point it felt like a lynch mob was gathering. After a second to confer, the ref's ordered my son off the ice, he was ejected from the game. he did the skate of shame off the ice to the locker room where I met up with him. He was sobbing. He felt terrible about what he had done. Luckily the kid was fine, just had the wind knocked out of him. We packed up his gear and gathered the family and headed home. I was way too upset to stick around, for fear of telling someone where to stick it.

The coaches wife called much later to check on Sean and to give us an update of the events that transpired after we left. Apparently, after the game, while our coaches were still on the ice but the team had gone to the locker room, several parents from the other team came into our boys locker room and harrased them. They yelled at our kids for the terrible way they played. I am so glad I wasn't there. I am sure I would have found a wonderful place to put a stick had I stayed.

And the place went crazy.... and so did the adults. Have we forgotten this is a bunch of 11 year old kids playing a game in the state of hockey.

Making Mama Proud

I had to share this photo with you.

It is my new favorite picture of my son,

minutes after wining the

2007 4A State Football Prep Bowl

for the second year in a row. Life is good!

Here is a link to the last 10 seconds of

the game. http://www.totinograce.org/school43/FCK/File/2007%20Football/SportsCenter.wmv

Can you say Espy Award???

Taco Tuesday

Got into a conversation last night with my daughter and mother-in-law regarding food days. Seems many places from restaurants to school cafeterias to even my own menu have a Taco Tuesday. Do we like things that sound right together? How about Tettrazini Tuesday? Not quite the same zing to it. Looking at my own menu, I find I have certain days for certain foods. We almost always eat a pasta dish on Mondays, Tuesdays , well yes, its Taco night. Wednesday is usually some kind of soup or goulash in a crock pot, by Thursday I am ready for a good ole American burger. Fridays through Sundays I get a bit more adventerous and make something new, my newest cuisine is Indian. Saturday I will make Tandoori Chicken and Coconut Rice. I am looking for more recipes to add to the nights menu. Much of my newer ideas have come from cooking shows, specifically Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. I am addicted to that show. Now I am not ready to go off and make Blood Sausage or eat an Organ Kabob, but it has shown me that there are many different foods out there that I need to try. I have mastered the Greek Gyro and many variations on the theme. Last weekend we enjoyed Greek Salisbury Steak with roasted vegetables, served with Cucumber Sauce and Parmesean Garlic Noodles. It was a big hit with the whole clan.

I did make homemade doughnuts yesterday and we all went on a carbo/grease overload that slightly warped my brain and palate. Too much of a good thing I guess. Actually the recipe called for a chocolate glaze on them but I may have fallen into a coma had I made and then devoured that.

We are enjoying, no wait, suffering through our lovely MN cold weather so I am thinking a good ole chicken stew is in order for tomorrow. I have ,bar none, the best stew recipe in the world. Tomorrow I will take photos and do a tutorial on it. You family will thank you. It is THAT good!

On another note, as many of you know I was putting out a newsletter every few months and then as life threw me curve balls, it got neglected. So I am now going to do a bi-weekly newsletter that I will send out by email to anyone that is interested. It will include the following:
News Items: Opinions and responses
Photo gallery
Specials and Sales
Recipes for the Kitchen
Make it yourself Beauty Bonanza
Going Green
Holidays and Events
Family Fun Ideas

and much more.

Send me an email to be on the list. Your email will be kept private.
First edition coming next week. beth@blissnblossomfarm.com

Joyful Joyful

Lord we adore thee. My deep faith carries me through all darkness. Have you prayed today? Not even when you bought that lottery ticket? Got cut off by a crazy driver? You tell me. What are you praying for this year??????

In fact, I have some bulk soap to give away so send me a special prayer and I will pray it with you. One lucky writer will also get a small bundle of soap and sundries.

If I owe any of you a package, swap or exchange- let me know. I lost ALL my addresses on this darn computer and can't get anything sent until You contact Me!!!!!!!

Me? I'm prayin Stallone knows when to stop making Rambo movies! But I can't get that song outta my head!

Truth Revealed

Life just has a funny way of showing the truth. The truth will out etc...... so in days to come, very soon, sooner than you had hoped, these truths shall be revealed. A revelation of sorts. Hope you like the music.

drowning pool