I know Thanksgiving is quite a ways away, but today I received confirmation that my mother and sister will be here from Wednesday to Saturday over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. It’ll be a nice getaway for them and I’ll get to spend the holiday with my family. Since they live in Winter Wonderland [AKA Michigan], they can come thaw out a little before the big chill season really kicks in there. I look forward to the visit.

This is actually the 1st year I have not made a Michigan visit. I usually try to go back around Christmas or in the Summer but these last 12 months or so I just haven’t been able to swing it for one reason or another. I do miss seeing my friends and family there though. “I can say that I don’t miss the snow and the rain…But I do.” [grin]

Last night’s hockey game was really a great game despite our team losing. Final score was 5 to 4…One of the 4 goals were mine(yay!). We were up against the 1st place team and if not for their team having a “ringer” on it who scored ALL FIVE of their goals, we would have won. Would have, should have, could have…No excuse either way…Regardless of the score, it was a well-played game. We did not make it easy for them to win.

Our team is really starting to gel this season and I’m feeling like I’m playing much better than I ever have. Playing this sport is quite infectious. I’m even looking forward to watching some NHL games this year(now that there IS an NHL this season).

Off subject, I’ve been enjoying the website http://www.bluetights.net/. This is director, Bryan Singer’s site with lots of goodies about the upcoming new Superman movie.

Singer (probably best known for X-Men movies), has a really great QuickTime Video Diaries section “Bryan’s Journals” on the site as well as an RSS News Feed. I’m anxiously awaiting as the site counts down June 30, 2006 will be here before we know it, but I can’t wait! I have a feeling this movie’s going to break some box office records.

I did something quite unexpected today. On my daily trip walking up to the corner store, I happen to see a homeless looking fellow sprawled out on the cement in a shaded area along Sunset Blvd…. He didn’t ask for food or money but as I was in the store, I asked for a separate bag and bought the guy a sub sandwich along with a Gatorade…Oh yeah, and a Quaker Honey & Nut Granola bar(those are yummy).

On my way to the store the guy was asleep [actually he looked half dead] but on my way back he was sitting up so I wasn’t really able to just sneak up to him and leave it without him knowing-that was the original plan. And so, I walked by him, slowing down just long enough to hand the guy the bag. He didn’t say “thanks” in words but his body language and facial expression did… and that made me feel good. [Pinning the Good Samaritan Badge on myself]

Normally, I do not give food or money to people on the streets who ask. Perhaps because this guy didn’t have to ask was why I did it. Who knows…Maybe I’m a nice guy after all.

There’s a lady who stands outside this corner store every single day and as I walk in, she asks for spare change. I’ve been ignoring her for about a year now and she annoys the hell out of me by continuing to ask. It’s now to the point where I’m actually WAITING for her not to ask and then I’ll give her some money.–I know, It’s now a sick game… But I’m anxiously waiting for the day she doesn’t ask. For the last 365 consecutive days, that has yet to happened. Truth be told…She doesn’t really look like she needs the money. It’s really people like her that make me not want to offer help to others. Silly, I know.

Los Angeles has a pretty bad homeless problem. Sometimes I wonder what road a person took to lead them to that path to be homeless. I know many of the street-dwelling people are mentally ill and need help but the ones that aren’t?…Truth be told, I just wonder how many moves I am away from Homelessness-Checkmate. Some of my pawns are already gone as it is.

Enough deep thoughts…Hockey game tonight at 9:30pm. It’s been so hot here that I’m looking forward to the ice time more than usual.

I just returned from Healthsouth Training Center in El Segundo, Ca (the place where The Kings practice). I actually went to the skate shop there to pick up a few things. What a great place it is!!! Clean and the upper levels are all heated…They even serve beer which struck me as odd for a training center

I’ll be playing in a tournament there pretty soon and it was nice to go down and get a look at the place. I am impressed. Seeing the little guys on the ice today made me start itching to get on the ice. I can wait until tomorrow’s game though.

I originally went there to purchase new shoulder padding. I was looking for some that had more protection for the rib area but I didn’t seem to see ANY that protect RIBS. Seeing as I’ve injured 2 of mine since I started playing hockey in this last year, I thought it was time I looked for something to help.

I didn’t buy any new shoulder padding but I DID get a shirt with rib protecting material that slides in and out of the shirt. I tried it on and it looks a little silly BUT…I’m pretty sure this is going to be the LAST of rib pain for me. I’m just surprised that they don’t seem to make shoulder padding with more rib protection.

I’m not sure how many of you have ever have any sort of rib injury, but let me tell you…It’s quite painful and unlike any other sort of pain I’ve felt before(it’s strange to say “ouch” after a sneeze or cough, not to mention taking a deep breath in). Also it seems to take FOREVER to heal! In any case, by buying this protector…This should be my very last gripe about ribs…Other than how gross it is to watch people eat.

…the Blog has a new look. What can I say…I just get bored with the way it looks ever so often. I suppose I should concentrate more on what’s being written on it rather than how it looks, but today I woke up looking at the journal thinking “Jesus, there’s way too much WHITE everywhere!”

I also did some changes on the front page of the site yesterday as well. I was tired of that photo too…And so, rather than picking just one photo as an opening shot as a 1st impression, I figured I’d throw a rotating bunch in there. A few people have commented..Thanks

Well… It’s Friday and getting close to 9pm. I haven’t been out all day and am feeling the need to do that–even if it’s just to run up to the video store or something. (thinking out loud here) I haven’t been to The Coffee Bean in quite a while…Maybe what my body is craving is just that. Hmmm…Well..First things first…I need to shower
Have a nice Friday.

Here’s a snapshot from last night. I had my hair cut before the Vegas trip to be pretty short(less hair in the heat is best ay?). The only thing about shorter hair is, it’s harder to mess up. I’ve been going for that just fell out of bed look for years…But most of the time it comes off as a just landed on my head look instead

I’m still planning on taking the California Motorcycle Safety Course in the next few weeks. The plan is to keep my truck for when I need to move equipment around and use the bike to just get around town. I’ve always wanted a bike…And now with gas prices as high as they are, it’s making more sense to get a 2 wheeler.

Things, I found out I need for the class:

Leather Jacket -CHECK
Gloves -NEED
Helmet -NEED
Over the Ankle Boots -NEED
Denim Jeans -CHECK

Sounds like I’ll be dressed like a Power Ranger :)You don’t need gloves and ankle boots to ride a bike on the streets, but to take the class, these are things they require. The nice thing is, they provide the cycles. More to come on this…And yes, I do know motorcycles are dangerous.

Well, It’s another HOT day here in Hollywood. Time to turn on the AC.

I received an email from my distribution company (cdbaby.com) saying that it’s members get to enter this American Idol Underground thing for free. Can’t hurt. I don’t know much about it other than what the website says(which isn’t much). Hmmm.

I signed up for a hockey tournament here in Los Angeles over Labor Day Weekend. Supposed to be a big event here in Southern California. Sounds like fun to me

Speaking of fun… I finally got to see Batman Begins yesterday. We went to the 7:10om showing and I was under the impression that there wouldn’t be that many people there to see it considering when I went to see Star Wars a few weeks after if came out, there were only just a few there to see it.

Well…To my surprise, it was a full house…But after seeing the movie, I can understand why. I really liked The Fantastic Four but I have to admit that this new Batman movie blows every other Summer movie out of the water. It’s really the best movie I’ve seen all Summer. F4 is just as good but in a different way…F4 is more comic-like(which I like too) and fun where as Batman Begins has a realism to it. Unlike the other Batman movies in the past where Gotham City looked like a theme park ride…The new Gotham looked believable…As did this whole new concept of Batman. Hands down, this is by far the best of all the Batman movies.

…Only have a second. I’m running late to see the new(er…Few weeks old) Batman movie. Starts at 7 and I still need to shower.
I was messing with some web stuff and lost track of time.

Web Time Warp!! One second it’s 2pm..The next 6:17pm!!! EGADS…

well…here’s the quickie idea I was working on. Creating blog skins is not easy…But it is sort of fun. I still need to leave room for links and crap like that.

Well…Will be sure to give my Batman review soon