Sweaty Cougar Pillow Fights

Buffalo is an Industrial port in the New York state of U.S.A. It is said to have links with the end of a lake that also connects it to the New York City. Buffalo even though occupying a petite place as an industrial port also has the privilege of being base ground of ice-hockey. York. Both the teams are known for their association with the National Hockey League (NHL). Sabres has a history of being the most strong team since the time it gained fame especially after the team had joined NHL in the 1970’s. The team was built by scions of a family long prominent in Western New York. The Buffalo on the other hand, had long been a focus for hockey. The Buffalo Bisons were also known as the pillars of the American Hockey League winners of the famous Calder cup in their final season. Bisons had been a very common name used in amongst the Buffalo sports teams, and immediately, a campaign for the new name started off by commissioning a name contest. Sabre was chosen as the new and winning name. The reason being, Sabre felt more of a weapon carried out by the leader.  At the time of their creation, the Sabres exercised their option to create their own American Hockey League (AHL) farm team, the Cincinnati Swords. The Sabres, played their first of many seasons at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium and were lucky to gain immediate success. The Sabres also very fortunate ones to have hit the spinning a roulette wheel and winning the NHL draft lottery and selected the future Hockey Hall of Fame center, Perrault, which happens to be the first in the year 1970 NHL amateur draft. To its surprise, Perrault was available to the Sabres. Despite Perreault’s winning play and getting the Calder Trophy, the Sabres did not make the playoffs. History Buffalo Sabres entered into the NHL league in 1970 with promising hopes and aspirations. The team was family owned by the Knox family who also originated from the western suburbs of New York State. One of the prime reasons why Buffalo was chosen for the hometown of the state ice hockey team was the well acclaimed ice rings and the love of the game that was predominant in that part of the region. Due to the harsh winters, ice hockey was a favorite past time for elders and young alike. The word sabre was chosen by Seymour Knox who believed that sabre was a weapon that is used by a leader and should be the name that becomes the team insignia and name brand in the NHL market.  And as fate would have it, the Sabres got their first beginners luck by winning the NHL draft lottery. The team immediately picked Gilbert Perreault who would later on be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Perreault scored 38 goals in his rookie season of 1970–71, at the time a record for most goals scored by a rookie in the NHL, and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. Irrespective of the individual performance of the all star player, the team could not make it to the playoffs. The team was able to acquire team players like Rene Robert and Rick Martin during the 1971-72 session of the game. The lucky trio became the differentiators in the game and gave to the team and the fans the most remarkable plays and records in the history of the game. The three were called “The French Connection” and dazzled the fans and gave the team their first chance in the play offs in 1972-73. Though the team did loose against the Montreal Canadians, the team and their spirit of the game still lives on in the history books. Sabre fans were thrilled to even be a part of the finals and could not believe that just three years into the game, their team was becoming national champions or at least competing for the gazette prize.Team Records and Performances With a couple of years of astonishing performances under their name, the team was finally ready to compete for the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their team history in 1975. Interestingly enough, several of the games were played in dense fog and the only time in history that an animal was killed during play time. Though the Sabres spearheaded for a magnificent win, the overall championship belonged to the Philadelphia Flyers. Another great and memorable victory for the Sabres was during the 1996-97 season.  With dedication and brilliant counter attacks, the spirit led the team to their northeastern division victory after 16 years to the delight of their fans. Along with the victory came the accolades of excellence. Nolan winning the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach, Dominik Hasek winning both the Hart and Vezina Trophies (the first goaltender to do so since Montreal’s Jacques Plante in 1962), Michael Peca taking home the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL, and general manager John Muckler honored as Executive of the Year. All of these gave to the team the recognition and respect that they had been fighting so hard for. After the death of Seymour Knox in 1996, major events turned the entire course for the team. Team was sold to Adelphia Communications and soon after the head coach Nolan’s services was terminated. Current StatusLike many of the great NHL teams that come, the Buffalo Sabres have gone through different spheres of time. Irrespective of the moments and events, Buffalo Sabres will be known as one of the hardest teams that have ever competed for the coveted Stanley Cup. People have fallen in love with their speed, intensity and smart hockey. Fans have gone crazy after their team and their spirit of the game. Critics have admired them for their reflexes and game winning temperaments.  With the new rules of engagement in NHL now, speed is a critical component of success which Buffalo Sabres are extremely proud of having.For more information about Buffalo Sabres vist: http://buffalo-sabres-nba.ixs.net

Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley
It is no surprise that there are plenty of sports going on in Brantford, Ontario. As the hometown of hockey star and sports legend Wayne Gretzky, there is a strong association between sports and Brantford. It is also famed for hosting many sports tournaments every year, including the Annual Wayne Gretzky Tournament. Its local sports teams go beyond just hockey, however.
Brantford Hockey Teams
Hockey is, of course, a major part of sports life in Brantford and throughout all of Canada. The Brantford Blast are Brantford’s Major League Hockey Team. Founded in 2000, it was the first time since 1987 that Brantford had a team in Canada’s senior ice hockey league.
In 2008 the Brantford Blast hosted the Allan Cup tournament for the 100th anniversary of the event at their home arena, the Brantford Civic Centre. Not only did they host the cup, they won the tournament, losing only a single game. It was the first time since 1987 that an Ontario Hockey Association Team won the Allan Cup. It was another Brantford Team, the Brantford Motts Clamatos, which won the Cup in that year.
Aside from the Brantford Blast are the Eagles, a junior ice hockey team and part of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. They are currently part of the Midwestern division. They also play at the Brantford Civic Centre.
The Brantford Red Sox
The Brantford Red Sox have been playing baseball in the city since 1911. Since 1934 they have been a part of the Intercounty Baseball League. They have won a total of 10 championships, most recently in 2008. Their colors are red and white and they can be seen playing in Arnold Anderson Stadium. Also playing at Arnold Anderson Stadium are the Brantford Braves, members of the Junior Intercounty Baseball League.
The Brantford Harlequins Rugby Football Club
The Harlequins were founded in 1950 by brothers George and Vince Jones. After reading in the Toronto Star that rugby was becoming popular again, they decided to form a team: the Brantford Harlequins. Today, the Harlequins Rugby Football Club is a collection of teams located in the Brantford, Ontario area. They include two Ontario Rugby Union teams, as well as two teams from the Niagara Rugby Union: one men’s team and one women’s team.
Brantford Blaze and Local Rep Teams
The city of Brantford, Ontario also boasts a basketball team: the Brantford Blaze. They play as part of the Canadian National Basketball League.
Aside from these major and junior league teams, there are a number of local rep teams playing in the city. On the soccer front, there is Brantford Intercity Soccer (known as BICS), as well as the Brantford City Soccer Club. There are two local rep basketball teams in Brantford: the Brantford Briers and Brantford CYO. The city also boasts a local football team, the Brantford Bisons.
For hockey there are a number of local rep teams. The Brantford Saints and Brantford 99ers both call the city their home. There are also the Brantford Ice Cats, a girl’s hockey team.

Many business operators know the importance of marketing and the role it plays in helping grow a business. While some may consider marketing a necessary evil in business operations and expense, internet marketing can fill many of the gaps created by advertising and offer many exciting rewards. If whatever you are doing to earn a living isn’t any fun, then it is just a job. Being creative and having a ball can turn that job into an exciting career.

Too many people confuse the terms advertising and marketing and believe that marketing is an expense they can eliminate. Consider how much business might be lost with a reduction in advertising, as customers move to another business. Then consider how much business may be lost if another brand makes a bigger splash than your own.

The key difference is that advertising is for a specific product or group of products usually offered for a brief time. Marketing is an attempt to create brand awareness and sell the company. It is also an ongoing effort and many companies find that marketing will offer more long-term gains not typically seen with advertising and that is what make it fun and more fulfilling to a company.

Since the internet began to grow, internet marketing has taken on a whole new approach to building a brand. It is not about placing advertising on high traffic sites, rather it is about getting the story about the company out to the public and the many different methods available in doing this makes it fun. With a newspaper or even broadcast ads, there is a time limit or space constriction about the amount of information a company can make available at any one time.

Most consumers do not mind if a few moments of their time is taken up while a company tells its story and lengthy story they want to hear or see on their time, when it is convenient for them. With the use of web logs, or blogs, as well as the use of videos inside web sites, a customer can learn al they care to about a company at their convenience. It can also be a lot of fun to put together a video to tell a company’s story that presents the message in a fun way.

It can also be fulfilling in knowing the message is not restricted to any borders and that the message is being received in locations that many people may have never heard of before they started getting feedback from other countries. One of the amazing things about internet marketing is the translation capabilities. No longer does a company have to worry about telling their story in two or three dozen different languages. There are many computer programs that can make accurate translations instantly.

The wider audience, the longer and more informative messages as well as the various types of media available for internet marketing makes it a fun field to work in as well as a fun filled method of telling the company’s story.

You only have to take a quick look at some of the most famous names in the National Hockey League to see that hockey is truly a family affair; the Stahls, the Niedermayers, and the Wilsons are all active NHL personnel with brothers on the same or other teams. In fact most National Hockey League players with siblings probably grew up playing hockey with them in leagues and informally.

If you have more than one child in your family and you have an interest in hockey, then in all likelihood you have more than one child in the game. Of course, this is not limited to boys, as the number of girls becoming involved in minor hockey has seen a meteoric rise in the last few years.

Many parents choose to hone their child’s skills and advance their social lives as well by signing them up for sports camps. Hockey skill camps have been a very popular way for young hockey players to become properly grounded in the basics of the game as well as have a good time meeting other kids who have a similar interest in the sport.

Goalie camps are one aspect of hockey camps that concentrate specifically on one hockey position, seeking to up the skill level of those who play the position. If you have more than one goalie in your family, then signing them up for the same goalie camp can help in several areas.

First of all, most goalie camps will provide a reduced registration fee for each child signed up to the camp. This means that sending your kids to the same camp will mean some great savings for parents who are already investing quite a lot in the game!

Children who attend hockey camps, including goalie camps, with one or more siblings are also less likely to suffer from the homesickness or feelings of isolation that are an inevitable part of separation, no matter how tough a kid is. Having a sibling around lessens the feeling of being “away”.

So when it comes to opportunities to enhance your child’s skill as a hockey goalie through a camp, why not consider making it a family affair? In the end, you will all benefit!

Does anyone know the leading injury in hockey? Well, its shoulder injury’s. Many hockey manufactures are trying to come out with lighter, stronger material that protects the shoulders from big blows on the ice. The concept seems easy, but its not. Some people think hockey players should wear football type shoulder pads, but in reality, they are too big, and too heavy for hockey players to move around in. It is hard to find something that will protect you fully, but CMM and RBK shoulder pads are the next generation of protecting your shoulders. I really want to know your take on the shoulder pad issue. Do you think shoulder pads should be bigger or smaller? My take is this; shoulder pads will always be essential for a hockey players protection and safety. Each hockey player is different, so each fit must match that players build. The challenge for manufactures is to make these concepts reality to all players. New ways of making sure shoulder pads will keep a player safe will continue to happen and I really don’t think a player will ever be fully protected.

Does anyone know the leading injury in hockey? Well, its shoulder injury’s. Many hockey manufactures are trying to come out with lighter, stronger material that protects the shoulders from big blows on the ice. The concept seems easy, but its not. Some people think hockey players should wear football type shoulder pads, but in reality, they are too big, and too heavy for hockey players to move around in. It is hard to find something that will protect you fully, but CMM and RBK shoulder pads are the next generation of protecting your shoulders. I really want to know your take on the shoulder pad issue. Do you think shoulder pads should be bigger or smaller? My take is this; shoulder pads will always be essential for a hockey players protection and safety. Each hockey player is different, so each fit must match that players build. The challenge for manufactures is to make these concepts reality to all players. New ways of making sure shoulder pads will keep a player safe will continue to happen and I really don’t think a player will ever be fully protected.

You probably don’t know people with no difficulties and hardships, and thats most likely because there aren’t many, as our ways of life make us sad and depressed at times. There are many great ways to handle boredom, but every single person has it’s own finest way, which would not work as well for other people.

Now days, the globe has changed, and embraced more modern ways of having fun, we have almost replaced the great old book with the more up to date e-books, and instead of just telling jokes and imagine them happen, we have all the funny clips.Years ago, no one could have said, what will surely await us when it comes to new ways of having fun, now days it is pretty obvious that high speed internet has taken the main role in the area of fun, as it represents the easiest way of getting some quality fun.

Obviously it could be easier if, every now and then, we could just pretend we don’t have a single problem and just lighten up and enjoy, living the best way we could, but reality doesn’t work like that. There are a lot, of us, who, when we feel gloomy, weary or just like doing nothing, love to spend some time on those websites, with various humorous stuff, such as jokes or videos.I love Short funny Jokes.

Enjoying those sites is most likely one of the cheapest and the most easiest ways of having fun, without a fear you’ll get addicted to it, nor that you’re throw your money as they’re without charge. The whole point is that we should have more fun and that we let many things that happen bother us, especially when we could not do a thing about them.

In place of worrying too much, we should spend some more time, with our family and friends, as those are probably the only rememberings we will still cherish and hold them dear.In other words, we should enjoy our lives to the max.

It was Appropriately bizarre that on October 7, 1995, the night that Plante’s number 1 sweater was retired by the Motreal Canadiens, Patrick Roy was rocked for five goals on 15 shots before leaving the game at 2:12 of the second period in the Canadies’ eventual 7-1 loss to Philadelphia.Plante was the colorful and innovative goaltender who backstopped five consecutive Stanley Cup championships for Montreal in the late 1950s and earned seven Vezina Trophies; Roy would go on to become the winningest goalie in NHL history. While Roy waded through the boos delivered by 17,646 people at the Montreal Forum that night, Plante’s son Michel was cascaded with cheers when he accepted a painting of his famous father during a center ice ceremonythat also included former Montreal goaltenders Gerry McNeil and Gump Worsle. Plante, who sadly died in 1986, at the age of 56, also won lating fame for becoming the first goalie to wear a mask on a permanent basis in 1959.

AWARDS AND HONNARS GIVEN TO PLANTE.Vezina Trophy 1955–56 NHL season Selected to National Hockey League All-Star First Team 1955–56 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1956 Vezina Trophy 1956–57 NHL season Selected to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team 1956–57 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1957 Vezina Trophy 1957–58 NHL season Selected to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team 1957–58 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1958 Vezina Trophy 1958–59 NHL season Selected to National Hockey League All-Star First Team 1958–59 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1959 Vezina Trophy 1959–60 NHL season Selected to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team 1959–60 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1960 Hart Memorial Trophy 1961–62 NHL season Vezina Trophy 1961–62 NHL season Selected to National Hockey League All-Star First Team 1961–62 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1962 Shared (with Glenn Hall) Vezina Trophy 1968–69 NHL season Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1969 Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game 1970 Selected to National Hockey League All-Star Second Team 1970–71 NHL season Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame 1978 Selected to the Canada Sports Hall of Fame 1981 Other notables:Richie Ashburn, Bobby Doerr, Eddie Giacomin, Glenn Hall, Billy Martin, Tracy McGrady, Bernie Parent, Pee Wee Reese, Terry Sawchuk, Ozzie Smith, Gump Worsley, Garo Yepremian, Chauncey Billups, Oscar Robertson, and Rafel Furcal.

Fact about the number 1: The first MLB player to wear number one was Earle Combs.

Do you remember the fun and excitement you had playing board games when you were young? But now that you have grown up, you have more interesting types of play in mind. Consider adding a spicy twist to the rules, make them Fun Foreplay and stimulate your sex life with erotically charged fun. Combine the rush of an intense competitive game with risqué fun that may include intimate and sensual pleasuring. With a bit of imagination, you can turn any ordinary game into an opportunity for erotic enjoyment and even great sex. And, with sex at stake, you win every time.

TDC Games created a Make-Your-Own-Opoly kit to create your very own personalized variation of monopoly. It includes software to design and then print your own game elements. A “sexopoly” style game is an obvious choice for many frisky minded adults. If you have the kit, you probably discovered it’s harder than you think to design a sex themed game. Incorporating stripping and various foreplay activities that make sense and add to the game play can be tricky.

Essentially any game for two (or more) can be enhanced by assigning intimate activities to certain types of events or using sex as a reward for the winner. When creating an erotic variation from one of your own favorite games, introduce a range of different intimate activities. This may include stripping, erotic dares and challenges or exotic foreplay ideas. Design them in a way that encourages you to sample various types and intensities of stimulation for a total sensual experience. More exotic activities could be assigned to rare events or as rewards for exceptional skill. Since you both have many erogenous zones to play with, try to avoid excessive repetition of any specific sensual delight.

Remember that being forced to strip adds to the excitement but clothing removal should be paced throughout the game. Build the intensity by escalating to more explicit types of sensual intimacy as the game progresses.

Fun and foreplay are essential to any relationship. As a couple, laughing and playing together and with friends keeps you both happy. To help inspire you to design your own erotic games, check out the game below:

Hi, My Name is Deb.

I’m a 39 year old, hockey playing, Mom of two beautiful (inside and out) children, Max 14 and Kristal 13.

I started playing hockey at the age of 27, while living in Brisbane Australia. I was skating at the local rink, trying to lose the baby weight from the birth of my daughter. At the end of the public skate, I was approached by the coach of the Queensland Women’s Ice Hockey Team. He had heard that I was a permanent resident (I was married to an Aussie) and I was asked to stick around, because they were having practice for the state team. I laughed, because I had never played organized hockey. Yes, I was a strong skater from being a figure skater and tomboy growing up, but I had never played on a real team.

In a nutshell, I stayed, I skated and I was asked to join the team.

My first EVER real hockey game was a national Championship. We (Queensland) won!!

I skated with the Queensland team for 3 years, ice and inline, traveled the country, met so many wonderful people…it was AWESOME!

1997, we moved back to the States, I found a women’s league in the Boston area and continued to skate. While my hockey was going strong, my marriage was falling apart…quickly. Hockey was my sanity…

While I was completely self absorbed with, and crying over, my failed marriage, my Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Jimmy, lost their 14 year old son Michael, to Leukemia.

It quickly put life into perspective for me… I stopped my crying and started thinking of ways for me to lesson my guilt, of not being there for them, while getting off my sorry ass and doing something to make myself feel better about ME, combined with being able to do something good for others!

On a cold night in October, my friend and teammate, Becky and I, went to a Boston Bruin’s Alumni game. As I was watching the B’s, it hit me…THIS IS IT!!! The women I skate with/against could skate just as well, if not better, than the team the Alumni were playing. My wheels started turning… Between periods, a friend, introduced me to the B’s, Gary Doak. After the “Hi, nice to meet you”, I blurted out…”Hey, would you guys be willing to play against a women’s team?” He said, “Sure, do you have a cause?” I said, “YES I DO!” “The Jimmy Fund, in Memory of my cousin Michael.” He said, “Does your team have a name?” And the first thing that came to mind was, “Chix with Stix”. I was told to put the request in writing and email it to the Bruin’s Alumni. I did and with in 2 weeks I received a letter saying that my “organization” was picked to play against the Alumni. And that’s how it all started…

Then it hit me… “Organization. What organization… It’s just me…I am the organization!? OH oh, now I have to produce!!”

I first started by putting together a team… the “Chix” weren’t an official team, I just said they were, to Gary, to get the ball rolling. But, I new it wouldn’t be hard to pull together a group of talented female players who would want the opportunity to skate against some of the biggest names in hockey!

Then “ALL” I had to do was…set a date, book a rink, design the uniforms, get sponsors, put together the raffles/prizes, staff the event, sell tickets, begin a media push, all while working my full time job @ Northwest Airlines and being a full time, NOW single, Mom…piece of cake!

Did I mention that I’m the type of person who LOVES a challenge and thrives when people say, “You’ll never do it!?”

I wanted this to be BIG. I wanted it to be different than all of the other Alumni games (other than the obvious of us being a women’s team), I wanted my kids to see that if you have an idea, as long as you believe in it and work hard at it, it CAN come together. But most of all, this was my chance to prove to myself that I could do this, do something big and “pay it forward”! So with NO event planning or marketing experience, I was on a mission to make this night memorable.

I’d have mini panic attacks…”Yes, my ideas were great, but can I really do this?”

My first crazy idea was to have my favorite Bruin (Terry O’Reilly) play for the Chix team, (maybe wear a wig, have him as OUR muscle). I called the Alumni office, spoke to Mal (for the first of MANY, MANY times) and asked her how to get in touch with Terry. She said that she was sorry, but she couldn’t give out his info.

Oh well…it was a funny idea.

The moment that I knew this event was going to be a success (and that my cousin Michael was watching over me) was…JUST after hanging up with Mal, I pulled into “Hockey Town”, to have my skates sharpened, and who do you think was skating??? Yup, Terry O’Reilly!! Terry freaken O’Reilly!!!” I took a deep breath, tried to contain my HUGE smirk and walked onto the bench, (where he’d just sat) I stuck out my hand, introduced myself and told him of my idea. He laughed and said, “Sure! Here take my number” (I almost pee’d!!) I took out my phone and tried to keep my hands from shaking while putting his number in. He introduced me to a few of the other guys, Brad Park and Andy Brickly to name two… and back out on the ice he went. I walked back to my car, completely forgetting to sharpen my skates, and called My Mom, Dad, Becky and whoever else would answer their phone on a Tuesday afternoon! Well, it turned out Terry had a prior Commitment with the Legends of hockey (in CANADA) for that same date…but when I called him, he said, “Deb, I’m REALLY sorry that I won’t be there, but, I know someone who will be and I’ll have him contact you…do you know Rick Middleton?” (UM, RICK MIDDLETON? OF COURSE I KNOW RICK MIDDLETON!!!) I said, “Yes.” He continued, “I’ll see if he can do it for you.”

I honestly did not think that Rick would call or that my crazy idea would actually happen and almost forgot about it, being wrapped up in all my other crazy ideas, that is, until my son came into the kitchen (my “Organization’s” new office), holding the phone and said…”Mum, Some guy named Rick Middleton is on the phone for you.” I instantly had goose bumps, fixed my hair (as if he could see me) and calmly said, “Hi Rick, what can I do for you?”

Well, long story short, he agreed to be a Chix (and wear a wig, lipstick AND fake boobs) and he convinced Tommy Songin (another former Bruin) to do the same! What a sight to see!!!

Have I mentioned that Hockey players, young, old, famous or not, male or female, just the whole damn hockey community, are the BEST, most down to earth, generous, and real people, on this planet??!! Have I mentioned that? Well, they are!

My next crazy idea was to get ESPN to cover us…I was told by EVERYONE, (except my friend and former hockey teammate, TC who’s company “Central Signal Corp” bought our Chix uniforms) that it would NEVER happen…of course, that made me want them to cover us even more. I’ll cut to the chase…(Again, my cousin Michael on my shoulder) I got ESPN’s hockey show “Cool Shots” to come up to Boston, cover the nights events and do a really nice piece on us.

Now, who would be our honorary coach? Being from the North Shore and growing up in a hockey loving family, who else would you want on the bench, but USA’s favorite son/captain, gold medal winning, local hero, Mike Eruzione!!

I made ONE call, got him directly and without hesitation, he said, “Sure, I’d love to!”

I think I mentioned how incredible the hockey community is, right?

My last crazy notion was to have a famous Boston voice/name/comedian to MC the game…My first phone call was to WZLX, where Steve Sweeney worked as the morning shows host/DJ. I was pushed to voicemail, left a message and never expected to hear back. About 15 minutes later, I jumped into the shower and my phone rang, it was STEVE and we were live on the air…” he asked, “what’s that noise”, I said, “Water, I’m in the shower”, he said “Oh my God, I’m in the shower with a female hockey player?”, I laughed said yes and he agreed to not only MC, but to have the radio station sponsor us, by running commercials and promoting it daily! Us Bostonian’s would describe Steve as a WICKED awesome and WICKED funny guy.

Jump forward to the evening of March 26th, The night that all of my crazy ideas come together, the first ever Chix with Stix fundraising hockey game. I’m on my way to the rink, the truck filled with supplies, raffle prizes, ME, we were hit with a freak half hour snow storm, I was on RT93 north, it caused crazy traffic, my drivers side windshield wiper broke, from the weight of the snow. I had to stick my head out of my window to see in front of me (I drive a standard, it wasn’t easy!!) but none of it was reason enough to dampen my night. I walked into the rink, covered in snow, started directing my fellow hockey teammates and family who where their to volunteer, fixed my hair and make up, did an interview with ESPN, got into uniform, was fitted for an ESPN mobile microphone, stood on the blue line for the National Anthem, between Rick Middleton and Tommy Songin looking across ice at the Alumni…The Chief, Brad Park, Pie McKenzie, The Rat, etc… What a feeling!!

Most of the night was a blur for me, but a great time was had by ALL!

It all went by so quickly, when we left the building, my teammates and I were surrounded by little girls, asking US for autographs.

It was the most incredible night for me, in so very many ways!

Just weeks after that magical night, my Nana, was diagnosed with Breast cancer, (She was in the stands on March 26th and told me how very proud she was of what I had done, was doing.) Knowing that she was now sick, combined with the fact that for the months following the first Chix game, I was constantly being asked, by both players and fans, to put together another game. I decided that I would. But because the Organization is just me (and my children) and it’s pretty time consuming, I figured, Yes, I would do it, but every OTHER year.

I also decided to change the beneficiary to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. And this time, do it in Nana’s name (Edna Cronin). Unfortunately, my Nana never made it to see the game that I was doing in her honor, she passed away on August 12th, Always the sports fan, (while literally on her death bed, floating in and out of a morphine induced high), She waved me towards her and whispered, “Deborah, what’s the score of the game?” I said, ‘2-1, Sox are losing, Nomar’s up and there are 2 outs, doesn’t look good.” She said back to me, “These damn Sox are going to kill me faster than this cancer!” Those were her last words, to me.

When the second event rolled around, because I had now become friends with most of the people involved with the Bruin’s Alumni organization, I DID get O’Reilly to play for the Chix, this time. He didn’t wear the wig and lipstick. But you know what… that was just fine with me, I got to skate with him as MY D partner!! Another fun night, another great beneficiary.

My life is sometimes surreal, ie: “Mum, Terry’s on the phone” (first name basis – hehe) or walking in somewhere and someone saying to me “Hey, I saw you on TV” (ME, this former figure skater, funny girl, just a working Mom, now skating to wipe out cancer)

Putting these events together, has changed my life, my children’s life, too. It’s expanded my circle of friends, it’s made me realize that even when most people think that something IS NOT possible, that’s when I feel it IS! My children have been right by my side through it all, on the bench, in the papers, in the locker rooms, they too have had an interesting and fun journey…it a pretty AWESOME feeling to hand a check to an organization knowing that it may just be my monies raised, that will help find the cure!

There are always times when your child claims boredom.  There are also moments when you are looking for something educational, yet fun and simple to do as a family.  With little materials and even less preparation, you can easily entertain and educate your child, plus, it can be fun for everyone involved.

The whole family can play this simple game while exploring the creative side of your children.  Add a little touch and help kids learn to read.

You know those magazines that you are done reading and unsure what to do with them?  Save them.  They make a fun family game.

Sit with your children and look at the pictures.  Anything that may look interesting, cut them out and lay them in a pile.  Use as many pictures or giant words (header words in large print) as possible.  For example:  If it is a picture of a book, cut it out.  Even if it is an action, such as:  washing dishes, cut it out.  Try to get as many different pictures as possible with a lot of variety.

Now, here is where you can get elaborate or simple.  You are going to use these pictures to let your child make their own story.  So, you can get a felt storyboard or even a magnetic board.  Or, you can just use the kitchen table.  Anything flat will work.

Let your child arrange the pictures any way they wish.  They don’t need to use all of them, just as many as they want.

After they have laid out the pictures, have them make up a story.  If certain pictures don’t fit in their story, have them remove them.  If they find a different picture to add another element to their story, let them add them.

The more pictures you have, the more creativity will come from your child. 

After your child gets the hang of it, start using the larger words you cut from the magazines and have them use them as well.  They can place them under the picture or use them instead of a picture to enhance their story.

For fun, let the child arrange pictures and you make up the story.  Then, you lay out the pictures and have your child tell the story.

If the story is especially good, get out some construction paper and glue the pictures to the paper.  If your child can write, have them write out the story under the pictures.  If your child can not write, have them dictate the story to you.  They have just made their own book.  And, this will probably be their very favorite bedtime story!

This craft project is easy to use and vary, depending on the ability of your child.  You can get overly involved with them or you can teach them how to do it and use it as a quiet time activity when you need to get a project done.

Either way, this is a fun game for everyone.  It is easy to prepare, easier to use, no mess, no fuss.  And, it is fun and educational.  What more can you ask of magazines you were going to throw away?